Normally it takes around 10 days to get complete recovery from MRSA infection. However, the time varies from person to person and depends upon a variety of factors.
How Long Does It Take For MRSA To Go Away?
The duration and recovery from the infection of MRSA may vary from person to person. The patient with a compromised immune system has a longer recovery period as compared to the person with a normal immune system. In such patients, along with the medications for treating MRSA, immunity boosting supplements are also recommended. Although the infection may subside within 10 days with proper treatment strategy and care, various other factors also play part in the treatment and recovery of MRSA. These factors are.
Rampant Antibiotic Use. Bacteria become resistant to antibiotics are due to the overuse, non-prescription administration, and non-compliance to treatment strategy. Thus, patients who are in the habit of taking antibiotics of their own become resistant to those antibiotics and this makes the treatment to continue for a longer period and hence the disappearance of symptoms may take a bit longer.
Compromised Immune System. Immune system is the line of defense against any invasion of pathogens; Even after the patient suffers from an infection, the immune system acts against the bacteria. This is indicated by the rise in WBC in patients with infection. This indicates that along with the antibiotic therapy, the immune system plays an important role in bacterial eradication. However, in the immunocompromised patients, the immune system is hampered and thus the long time is required for complete recovery from MRSA infection.
Unhygienic Recovery Period. Healthy hygienic habits play an important role in the prevention of MRSA infection. It is similarly true in the case of a patient who is recovering from an infection. During the infection with MRSA, the risk of opportunistic infection increases. An opportunistic infection is the infections which are developed in the body when the body is busy fighting against the main infection. Proper hygiene should be maintained during the recovery of MRSA otherwise, due to opportunistic infection, the patient takes a longer period for complete recovery.
Non-Compliance To Medications. The emergence of MRSA as an aggressive and difficult to treat bacteria is due to irregular use of antibiotics. Further, non-compliance to medications in normal, simple-to-treat infection also play their part in the evolution of MRSA. The treatment strategy for MRSA infection is designed by critically analyzing the condition of the patient, organs involved and the severity of the infection. However, the treatment should be completed when the patient takes the medication in the dose and at the time as prescribed by a healthcare professional. Non-compliance to the prescription may further cause bacterial resistance and the doctor has to further design another treatment strategy leading to an increased period of infection.
Organs Involved In Infection. MRSA infection has different mortality rate depending upon the severity of infection or sepsis and the vital organ involved; The mortality rate in mild sepsis is around 15% while in severe septic condition, the mortality rate shoots up at 50%. Thus the treatment and recovery period depend upon the organ involved. If the multiple organs are involved, the treatment period increases, and more aggressive treatment is required.
Complications With MRSA
Following are the complications of MRSA:
- Nervous System Infection. The MRSA infection may also attack the nervous system and if not treated immediately, it may lead to meningitis.
- Sepsis. Sepsis is the infection of the blood. It may progress to severe sepsis and further progresses to a fatal condition known as septic shock.
- Organ Failure. MRSA infection may also lead to organ failure such as kidney failure.
- Cardiovascular Infection. MRSA infection may also reach to heart and lead to carditis.
Conclusion
Various factors determine the recovery time for any infection including MRSA infection. This includes the immune health of the patient, non-compliance to medications, hygienic condition during the recovery period and the organs involved.
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