MRSA cellulitis is a severe inflammation of the lower layers of the skin and lower subcutaneous tissues, the dermis and hypodermis, caused by a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. MRSA is a staph infection that is often contracted in hospitals. Like other Staphylococcus aureus infections, it most often infects the patient through breaks in the skin, such as those caused by cuts, bites, or puncture wounds. It is treatable, but due to decades of evolution under the selective pressure created by the widespread use of antibiotics, it has developed immunity to many common antibiotics, such as penicillin. Left unchecked, a MRSA cellulitis infection can spread beyond the skin into deeper tissues,
MRSA cellulite occurs most often in situations where large numbers of people live nearby, such as prisons, nursing homes, and military barracks. MRSA infection is a particular problem in hospitals, as many hospital residents have weakened immune systems and skin damage, either from injuries or from medical equipment, such as intravenous needles and catheters. However, this problem can be greatly mitigated through improved sanitation and MRSA detection. The risk of infection increases due to physical conditions that affect circulation, such as diabetes, obesity, and pregnancy. Frequent contact with livestock or with communal facilities such as public changing rooms and gymnasiums are also risk factors.
MRSA cellulitis appears as a tender, reddened area that extends near the small boils that form in the area where the MRSA bacteria originally entered. The reddened area is unusually hot when touched. As the infection progresses, the boils become increasingly painful, larger, and filled with pus. Unlike more superficial skin bacterial infections in the epidermis, which tend to produce continuous red areas with well-defined borders, the reddened area that appears as a result of cellulitis has a more patchy and diffuse appearance. However, it is possible that both are present at the same time,
Uncontrolled MRSA cellulitis in deep subcutaneous tissues can cause necrotizing fasciitis, popularly known as "flesh-eating bacteria," a condition in which toxins produced by the bacteria begin to destroy soft tissue. If MRSA enters the victim's bloodstream or lymphatic system, it can spread throughout the body and cause conditions such as pyomyositis, infection of the skeletal muscles, and necrotizing pneumonia. Additionally, the toxins produced by MRSA can cause fatal sepsis or toxic shock syndrome.