“Physician’s Weekly” recently reported that the predominant cause of skin infections among emergency room patients is MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) Infections.

MRSA infections often lead to more serious, invasive infections, causing roughly 18,000 deaths annually. Such fatalities related to patient care can be avoided if certain guidelines are followed.

“MRSA has an enormous clinical and economic impact,” said Henry F. Chambers, MD. “Many clinicians often have difficulties when managing these infections.

“When these patients are not properly managed, the results can be severe. Poor management can also promote antibiotic resistance, which is fast becoming a growing concern among clinicians.”

A set of MRSA guidelines has outlined a breakdown of methods to enable those in physician services to better manage MRSA infections in patients.

“The management of all MRSA infections should include identification, elimination, and/ or debridement of the primary source and other sites of infection when possible. This includes cases in which there is drainage of abscesses; removal of central venous catheters, prosthetic devices or other implants; and debridement of osteomyelitis,” as reported in the “Physician’s Weekly” news article.

The story also explained that “guidelines indicate that education on personal hygiene, and appropriate wound care, is recommended for all patients with SSTIs. Patients should be instructed to keep drained wounds covered with clean, dry bandages and maintain good personal hygiene, and hospital physicians should always advise patients to avoid reusing or sharing personal items that have contacted the infected skin.”