Severe pimples might lead to hospitalisation

Severe boils and pimples are sometimes caused by deadly bacterium that cannot be treated with conventional drugs, making people land in emergency rooms. Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, found that 59 percent of skin and soft tissue infections seen in 11 emergency rooms across the United States were from the deadly bug known as MRSA. Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA is a bacterium resistant to certain antibiotics. It occurs most frequently in patients with weak immune systems in hospitals and nursing homes and can spread by poor hygiene. MRSA has emerged as growing problem in many countries, causing difficult-to-treat infections. In England and Wales, for example, the number of deaths linked to MRSA jumped 22 percent between 2003 and 2004. Most pimples are caused by acne, which affects nearly 17 million people in the United States and is usually created when the skin's pores are clogged with oil and dead skin cells. Draining and keeping the skin clean can help treat them, but more severe infections may require antibiotics or hospitalisation. The findings suggest that when infections become serious enough, doctors need to test to make sure they are not of the MRSA strain. Spread of the infection can be prevented by regular hand washing with soap and water. People also should not share personal items like towels and razors. So if you have a skin lesion that is not healing, you want to see your doctor to make sure it's not an infection like MRSA.