Why MRSA is difficult to treat.

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Why MRSA is difficult to treat

MRSA is difficult to treat because of it’s resistance.  Acquired immune processes include the body’s adaptive response to antibiotics.  ie when given the body makes specific antibodies to combat MRSA by destroying it’s outer membrane.  Antibiotics can be given orally or through injections.  The main antibiotics used are vancomycin and rifampicin and they are most effective when used in combination.  If it’s used early then it can eradicate the infection within 48 hours.  Moreover, as a preventative measure it may be given immediately after surgery (particularly invasive techniques.)  Vancomycin is considered the “last line of defence” but alone it may be ineffective as, although rare in the UK certain strains of (non-classic) MRSA can be resistant to the antibiotic(s.)  

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Vancomycin can also have serious side effects.  Patients can develop experience liver and kidney damage.  Alternative antibiotics in use are linezolid and flucloxacillin.

Flucloxacillin is more common in community practice. In l994 a warning was placed on the listing of its use due to a possible association with cholestatic hepatitis. However, with MRSA infections, the morbidity and potential mortality are high and the benefits of flucloxacillin far outweigh the risks.

Linezolid is also effective. Infact, it may be equivalent to Vancomycin in the treatment of MRSA infections.  Research conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs concluded that this is safer ...

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This is a good essay that looks at ways to treat MRSA. However, it is very technical and some of the language is beyond that which would be expected at this level of writing. It is correct but I think it would benefit from being simplified so that the writer could show that they understand what they are writing. It could also be enhanced by including some history of MRSA and why it is such a problem. ****