MRSA and Other Types of Staph Found in Ocean
Recent Study Identifies Dangerous Staph Bacteria at Public Beaches
Sep 14, 2009
In recent years the incidence of staph bacteria has increased in a variety of community settings including public beaches according to recent studies. In particular, one type of staph bacteria called Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is causing significant concern since it has now been found at public beaches along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America.
Staph infections can pose health risks ranging from skin infections to life-threatening conditions such as pneumonia, and the best defense is to limit exposure. That doesn’t necessarily mean ruling out all trips to the beach, say experts, who advise beachgoers to cover any open cuts before going to the beach and then showering afterwards.
What is MRSA?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes MRSA as “a type of bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics.” In addition to methicillin, MRSA is resistant to common antibiotics such as penicillin and amoxicillin, which is one reason it is so potentially dangerous. Most incidences of MRSA are secondary to exposure in a hospital or other healthcare facility, but increasingly community-associated MRSA infections have been reported.
Increase of Staph Bacteria Found at Beaches
Recent research by microbiologists at both the University of Washington in Seattle and the University of Miami in Florida found staph bacteria at public beaches on both coasts. In one 2008 study, researchers sampled 10 Washington State beaches during an eight month period and found MRSA at half of the beaches. Other types of highly resistant staph bacteria were found at nine of the ten beaches. In the other study, researchers found that one in three individuals swimming at a South Florida beach was exposed to staph. Although no staph bacteria were found at Southern California beaches surveyed as part of the University of Washington study, experts believe it is likely staph bacteria exists there as well.
How Staph Infection is Spread
Staph infections are most commonly spread from direct contact with an infected person or an infected person’s personal items. Outside of hospitals and other healthcare facilities, staph infections are most commonly spread in places such as dormitories, schools and locker rooms, especially where skin-to-skin contact or the sharing of personal items commonly occurs. It has generally been thought that staph does not naturally occur in the environment, and so there are some important questions about how staph bacteria is showing up in water and sand samples at public beaches.
Health Risks Associated with Staph Bacteria and MRSA
Most individuals who come into contact with staph bacteria will only experience a mild infection that is easily treated, but children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are at much higher risk, especially if they are exposed to the one of the strains (like MRSA) which is resistant to antibiotic treatment. According to unconfirmed statistics, at least 100,000 people are affected by MRSA each year, and of those, close to 19,000 die from it.
Should People Swim at Public Beaches which May Have Staph Bacteria?
More research is needed before the true risks of contracting a staph infection secondary to going to the beach are fully known. In the interim, health professionals encourage common sense like showering before swimming, covering all open wounds while at the beach and showering after any dip in the ocean.
BNC101
 |
