subject: MRSA Staph Infection & Pregnant Women [print this page] For women, being pregnant is one of the most important time of their lives. The immune system becomes important and hormones are on the rise. This is due to stress put on the expectant mother, as well as the gestation of the fetus. One of the most important issues facing pregnant woman today is exposure to, or infection by MRSA staph infection. Recent studies show that there has been a significant rise in expectant mothers infected by MRSA.
The statistics are quite surprising, in a study from 2004 that was published in the Journal Watch General Medicine in October of 2005. A total of 17 women were diagnosed with MRSA. Approximately 1/2 of the women were infected in the second trimester and 18% were infected after delivery. Almost all of the women had soft tissue infection or skin infection and more than 60% had treatment while still in the hospital. The study showed that the infection occurred mostly when the pregnant underwent cesarean section.
Out of the MRSA staph infection contracted by the seventeen women, rifampicin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and vancomycin gave the most positive test results regarding a cure. Out of all the infected women 98% were cured with the drug gentamicin, and 87% became sensitive to tetracycline and 84% became sensitive to levofloxacin. However, over the past few years these drugs are needing to be prescribed in much higher doses to remain effective as the super bug MRSA evolves itself.
One problem that is risen from this type of complication for an expectant mother is that the powerful antibiotics could have a reverse effect on the babies fetus if the antibiotic were ingested. The women who took part in this study all had infection on the external part of the body so there was no danger to the baby as it was growing in the mother's womb. Several other studies have shown that birth defects are very uncommon even when MRSA infection is present. I also do not know of any reported cases of miscarriages that were attributed to a MRSA staph infection.
There are many antibiotics they can be used to rid of MRSA staph infection any stage during an expectant mother's pregnancy. If necessary, the antibiotic penicillin or a penicillin derivative can be prescribed by your doctor for a MRSA infected expectant mother. This kind of antibiotic does not appear at this stage to cause you any sort of birth defects or any other problem. Danger arises if the expectant mother may be allergic to penicillin or its derivatives. My best advice on how to manage MRSA staph infection during pregnancy is to talk to your doctor to see what is the proper treatment in this stage of your life.
The best way to avoid MRSA staph infection while pregnant is prevention, prevention, prevention. If there are any individuals in your house that have been diagnosed to have a MRSA staph infection, avoid handling any thing that they touch to prevent being contaminated. Increase the amount of times you wash your hands five-fold and please get some disinfectant and antibacterial soaps and use them religiously. Prevention and good hygiene is the best way to prevent and mange MRSA staph infection while pregnant.
MRSA Staph Infection & Pregnant Women
By: Linda Allen
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)
