Knowledge can replace concern. The more we know about how things work, the less worried we are about how they can affect us. Oftentimes, we discover that things are much less harmful than we thought they were. Illnesses provide such a case. The more we know about how to diagnose, treat, and prevent a certain illness, the more peace-of-mind we have about it. For instance, ere are some vital questions and answers about the bacteria MRSA:

1. What is MRSA?

MRSA has a long name: methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. However, the public more commonly refers to it as staph bacteria, MRSA, or the superbug. At any given time, various staph bacteria exist on the skin and in the noses of about a quarter of the world's population. MRSA is quite harmless when we are healthy. However, it can become a threat to our well being, when we are exhausted, injured, or have recently undergone an operation. When MRSA enters our bodies, we must receive medicine to kill the bacteria.

2. How do doctors diagnose MRSA?

The process is quite basic. Doctors remove a sample of bacteria from a patient, and then grow it in a laboratory culture. The sample can originate from a variety of sources, including the nose, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Cerebrospinal fluid is contained in a person's backbone and brain, and provides shock absorption. It is important that doctors adhere to this process, to verify that the bacteria are indeed MRSA.

3. How do doctors treat MRSA?

Various factors determine the particular treatment that physicians use, to treat any type of staph infection. Factors include:

•The location of the infection

•How serious the illness has become

•How sensitive the infection is to antibiotics

Large groups of bacteria on the skin or in the nose, and swelling, are usually not indicators that antibiotics are necessary. In the case that antibiotics are indeed necessary, the number of antibiotics that are effective in treating MRSA, are quite limited. MRSA is resistant to several types of antibiotics, including penicillin and all drugs that resemble penicillin.

4. How can medical personnel help to prevent MRSA infections?

In a word, keep people and areas hygienic. It is important for all personnel and patients to wash their hands using soap and water, until they have completed singing the "ABC Song." Staff at clinics and hospitals can also wear hygienic clothing, such as scrubs. Studies have revealed that wearing scrubs, such as cheap landau scrubs, can significantly reduce the transmission of MRSA. The public can also take certain measures, such as:

•engaging in proper hand-washing

•not sharing towels and athletic equipment during their workouts.

•keeping wounds clean and bandaged

•avoiding contact with the wounds of other people

MRSA can be devastating to patients, and challenging for medical staff. However, we can successfully use certain proven methods to diagnose, treat, and prevent it. Following the aforementioned guidelines, such as requiring medical personnel to wear hygienic scrubs, can help to keep the "superbug" MRSA, super-contained.