Is it really a spider bite?                                                        

                If we wake up some morning with a small, painful red bump somewhere on our body we’re likely to blame it on a spider. That’s correct only about 20 percent of the time according to entomologists who have looked into this problem. Sometimes it’s not an insect bite at all. An increasing number of emergency room visits for so-called spider bites reveal that it’s because of a different kind of “bug” known as MRSA – Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.

            On any given day about half of us carry various strains of “staph” bacteria on our skin or in our nose. The overwhelming majority of these are entirely harmless but about 2 percent belong to the MRSA group. In 2007 they caused nearly 100,000 hospital admissions and may have been responsible for about 18,000 deaths. Most of the time they cause nothing more than a painful, reddened area of skin that surrounds a bubble-like pustule but that can progress to a serious infection requiring intensive treatment. Occasionally it requires the surgical removal of all or part of a limb and sometimes the disease has a fatal outcome.

            When MRSA emerged several years ago it was primarily a hospital-associated (nosocomial) infection but most cases now occur in the community at large. If there is any good news it is that hospital-related cases are decreasing. The most likely reason is that efforts to control the spread of this bacterium are effective. On the other hand, staphylococcal infections tend to occur in 25- to 30-year cycles and we may be seeing a natural downturn in the current cycle.

            The most common problem caused by the staphylococcus bacterium is a localized skin abscess. In many cases an antibiotic is not needed. Simply opening up the abscess and providing adequate drainage results in complete cure, making antibiotic resistance a non-issue. Caution: don’t do this by yourself at home. Get immediate medical care if you develop fever or the lesion gets worse.

            It’s possible to dramatically lower the risk of acquiring MRSA infection. Make it a habit to wash your hands several times every day, using ordinary soap. Lather thoroughly while humming the Happy Birthday song – twice. Avoid personal items such as towels, washcloths or clothing that others have used without laundering. Never use someone else’s razor.

            If you have any open wound or what looks like a bug bite, keep it covered.

            And give spiders a break.