What is mercer infection

Once the infection is resolved, Hultman says it is a good idea to be tested to see if you are a carrier. You can spread MRSA to other people if their skin touches the infected area, so keep the sore bandaged and protected.

Be careful to wash all of your clothing, bed linens, towels, etc. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. The area is swollen, oozing and hot to the touch. What is MRSA? If you or someone in your family experiences the signs and symptoms of MRSA: Contact your healthcare provider, especially if the symptoms are accompanied by a fever. Do not pick at or pop the sore.

Cover the area with clean, dry bandages until you can see a healthcare provider. Clean your hands often. Cover your wounds with clean, dry bandages until healed. Pus from infected wounds can contain MRSA. Throw away bandages and tape with the regular trash. You, your family, and others in close contact should wash hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub, especially: after changing a bandage after touching an infected wound after touching dirty clothes Do not share personal items such as towels, washcloths, razors, and clothing, including uniforms.

Wash laundry before use by others and clean your hands after touching dirty clothes. Get Email Updates. To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address.

What's this? Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. CDC is not responsible for Section compliance accessibility on other federal or private website. Cancel Continue. The bump may resemble a spider bite or pimple. It often has a yellow or white center and a central head.

Sometimes an infected area is surrounded by an area of redness and warmth, known as cellulitis. Pus and other fluids may drain from the affected area.

Some people also experience a fever. Diagnosis begins with a medical history assessment and physical examination. Samples will also be taken from the site of infection. The types of samples obtained to help diagnose MRSA include the following:. Wound samples are obtained with a sterile cotton swab and placed in a container. Sputum is the substance that comes up from the respiratory tract during coughing.

A sputum culture analyzes the sputum for the presence of bacteria, cell fragments, blood , or pus. People who can cough can usually provide a sputum sample easily.

Those who are unable to cough or who are on ventilators may need to undergo a respiratory lavage or bronchoscopy to obtain a sputum sample. Respiratory lavage and bronchoscopy involve the use of a bronchoscope, which is a thin tube with a camera attached.

Under controlled conditions, the doctor inserts the bronchoscope through the mouth and into your lungs. The bronchoscope allows the doctor to see the lungs clearly and to collect a sputum sample for testing.

To do this, urine is collected in a sterile cup during urination. The cup is then given to the doctor, who sends it to a lab for analysis. Sometimes, urine must be collected directly from the bladder. To do this, the healthcare provider inserts a sterile tube called a catheter into the bladder. Urine then drains from the bladder into a sterile container.