Pneumonia is a lung infection that may be caused by viruses, fungi as well as bacteria. Mrsa pneumonia refers to methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus pneumonia. These bacteria can live in the nose of a person without causing symptoms but are different from other kinds of staphylococcus bacteria because they cannot be treated with some antibiotics like methicillin.

Mrsa pneumonia is often caught by people during a hospital stay or through a long term stay at a care facility. This is therefore also known as healthcare associated pneumonia. Some people are at a greater risk of developing this condition. These include individuals who have had to take assistance of breathing machines or those who are in the intensive care unit. Those individuals who have a weak immune system may also be susceptible to developing this condition along with individuals having some illnesses like heart disease or diabetes.

Mrsa pneumonia normally spreads through breathing machines or by way of aspiration. In aspiration germs from the throat or mouth can enter a person’s lung airways. This can happen when the person is not completely conscious and cannot cough or swallow mucous in the throat. The germs causing this infection can also be spread by one patient to another through healthcare workers.

The symptoms associated with mrsa pneumonia include severe cough that may bring up mucous. Such mucous may be yellow or greenish in color and may also be tinged with blood. The patient may also get fever and experience shaking chills along with chest pain and confusion. This condition is difficult to detect since the patients are already ill.

The detection of mrsa pneumonia can be done through a physical examination along with some other tests. The doctor may listen to the patient’s chest sounds through a stethoscope. A chest X-ray along with CT scan can also help in diagnosing this condition. A blood test can also help in identifying this condition.

In some cases mrsa pneumonia can result in some complications. These include bacteremia where germs causing the infection may enter the patient’s bloodstream and this may cause damage to the organs. Pleural effusion is another complication that can be observed and in this infected fluid may build up within the space between a person’s chest and lungs. Lung abscess may also be formed and in this pockets of pus may form in the lung tissue. In extreme cases respiratory failure may also occur.

Hospitals tend to take some precautions to prevent mrsa pneumonia. The use of breathing machines should be limited as far as possible. Raising the heads of the patient beds can prevent the bacteria from gaining entry in the lungs. It is crucial for health care workers to wash their hands so as to prevent transmitting germs from one patient to another. The hospital staff should therefore wash their hands before touching each patient. Using a simple device called spirometer can allow the patients to ensure that the lungs are cleared. A pneumonia vaccine can also prevent patients from getting this form of the infection.