Recognizing Signs of MRSA

• 1). Make daily notes regarding the infected area. If the area appears swollen, warm to the touch, pus-filled, or darkened, write down on a scale of one to ten the severity of these symptoms.
  
  
• 2). Take your temperature regularly. If the temperature has fluctuated between three and four degrees from normal body temperature, this is another symptom of MRSA.
  
  
• 3). Monitor the infected area for abnormal skin growths. MRSA can produce pimple-like blisters that fill with puss and can be easily spread. This is generally one of the first signs of a MRSA infection.
  
  
• 4). If the infected area does not heal or improve within one week, or if it worsens over time, this could be an indication of MRSA infection.
  
  

Sanitation and Treatment Response

• 1). Cleanse the hands thoroughly with an antibacterial soap. The hands must be sanitized before and after physical contact with a wound to avoid spreading the infection or introducing bacteria into the wound.
  
  
• 2). Dab one cotton swab around the infected area. If pus or fluid that appears yellowish oozes from the wound, this signifies the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria is present in the wound, indicating infection. Dispose of the cotton swab in a plastic bag, but do not throw away the plastic bag until you have completed all of the steps below.
  
  
• 3). Place a dime-sized amount of antibiotic ointment onto the cotton swab, and lightly coat the wound with the ointment. Do not apply excess pressure; the wound may have an internal pus bag that may be ruptured with pressure. If this occurs, seek medical attention immediately. Dispose of the cotton swab in the plastic bag.
  
  
• 4). Place two gauze pads over the wound. Once again, do not apply pressure to the wound. Secure the gauze pads with a large bandage.
  
  
• 5). Dispose of all wrappers from bandage and gauze pads in the plastic bag. Tie the bag into a knot, and immediately take the bag to outside garbage can. If your infection is indeed MRSA, all items that have come into physical contact with the wound are contaminated. Disposing of these items reduces the risk of transferring the MRSA infection to others.
  
  
• 6). Cleanse your hands once more with an antibacterial soap after disposing of the plastic bag. It is crucial to keep the body as sanitized as possible if MRSA is suspected.
  
  
• 7). Change the bandages and gauze pads two times a day, following the sanitary procedure listed above. Take note of the temperature of the wound. Heat radiating from the wound is a common symptom of MRSA infection.
  
  
• 8). Monitor the wound's treatment extensively. If the wound does not begin to heal and appears worse in appearance after a three days, a trip to the doctor may be in order.
  
  
• 9). Monitor the color of the wound. If skin around the infected wound begins to darken or turn an unusual color, the skin may be necrotic (dead).