Through my mother’s experience & over a 1,000 hours researching on the net I've gained a vast amount of knowledge about MRSA. My mother acquired MRSA during a hospital stay in 2005 passed away on Sept. 27/06. She was 69 yrs old & I promised her I'd tell as many people as I could about MRSA.  I created this group to help keep that promise & it's my hope the info contained in the group's messages, files & links helps prevent you or someone you love from getting MRSA.

What is MRSA? Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), is a strain of bacteria that has developed an antibiotic resistance to penicillins including methicillin, oxacillin, amoxicillin & other types of antibiotics. MRSA can cause serious infections, pneumonia & blood stream infections. Once MRSA is in the bloodstream, it can attack vital organs & in 20-25% of the patients is fatal.
 
In the past MRSA was usually only acquired in a hospital setting & is referred to as HA MRSA or Hospital Associated/Acquired MRSA. In recent years however MRSA has made its way into the community & it is now very possible for you & your loved ones to acquire MRSA from places within your own community like schools, work, gyms, malls, banks, grocery stores, etc. & that's what makes MRSA very scary!  When a person acquires MRSA & has not been hospitalized within a year prior to acquiring it is referred to as CA MRSA or Community Associated/Acquired MRSA.

Most strains of MRSA are treatable with a "last line of defense" antibiotic called Vancomycin however there are now signs MRSA is now developing a resistance to this antibiotic as well.

Please forward the link to this group to everyone you know.  Thanks!