Final answer:
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes various infections and is resistant to many antibiotics. It presents a significant challenge in healthcare settings and the community. Due to its resistance, effective treatment is difficult, making it critical to use antibiotics judiciously and maintain strict hygiene measures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Bacterium Causing Resistant Infections: MRSA
A bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body and is often resistant to commonly used antibiotics is known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA is a particularly dangerous strain of the common staph bacteria, capable of causing skin infections, bloodstream infections, pneumonia, surgical site infections, and urinary tract infections. The imprudent use of antibiotics has contributed significantly to the rise of this superbug, which is now resistant to a range of antibiotics including methicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin, and oxacillin.
MRSA infections pose a serious public health challenge because they are difficult to treat due to the bacterium's resistance to multiple antibiotics. These infections can occur in people residing in healthcare facilities, where the average age of affected persons is 68 years, and in the community, where a younger demographic is affected, with an average age of 23 years. This distinction is labeled as "community-associated MRSA" or CA-MRSA. The increased prevalence of antibiotic resistance is a global concern, spreading rapidly and leading to at least 23,000 deaths annually in the United States.
Bacterial infections of the skin are often diagnosed by culturing the bacteria and treated with antibiotics, but due to antibiotic resistance, including that exhibited by MRSA, antimicrobial susceptibility testing is also necessary. Prevention includes maintaining good hygiene, effectively cleaning surgical sites, and prudently using antibiotics to avoid further resistance.