What is a MRSA?
MRSA is the acronym for the bacteria called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It is a type of microorganism that can lead to different kinds of infections; most commonly skin infections.
Though regular S. aureus has been the cause of what are commonly known as MRSA infections, or “staph infections” likely for as long as there have been humans, MRSA is relatively new. It was first identified back in 1961, only about two years after methicillin – an antibiotic – was first used to treat it.
It is believed that the bacteria became resistant to methicillin because of the evolution of one of its genes. It is believed that this gene has continued to evolve, so that some strains of MRSA are also resistant to other antibiotics such as amoxicillin, oxacillin, and penicillin. Other forms of the bacteria, such as HA-MRSA are also frequently resistant to erythromycin, tetracycline, and clindamycin.
As a result, it is sometimes labeled a “superbug” because it has developed a resistance to several types of antibiotics.
MRSA Symptoms
MRSA infections aren’t uncommon and they can produce a number of different kinds of symptoms. Because there are so many types of infection with MRSA bacteria, you may experience one or several MRSA symptoms. They may include any of the following:
Abscesses – which are pus collections either under or within the skin.
Boils – which are infected hair follicles that fill with pus.
Carbuncles – which are similar to abscesses, but that are larger, typically opening up on the skin in several places.
Cellulitis – which is a type of infection to either the fat and tissues underneath the skin, or the skin itself, which will typically start as small red bumps.
Impetigo – which is a blister filled with pus on the skin.
Rash – which occurs as has red or reddish-colored patches on the skin.
Sty – which is an infection of the eyelid’s oil gland.
Among the biggest struggles with MRSA infections is that they can spread to virtually any other place in the body. Should this occur, symptoms will typically increase in their severity.
If the infection spreads to internal organs, it can become quite severe; even life threatening. Additional MRSA symptoms can include low blood pressure, fever, chills, severe headache, pain in the joints, a rash over most of the skin’s surface, and shortness of breath. These are indicate that treatment is required immediately.
There are few treatments available for MRSA infection, as many strains of the bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. Instead, alternative options that have proven their efficacy, such as blue light, are being used much more regularly. Please explore the links from our MRSA main page to learn how blue light therapy might help kill MRSA infections of the skin.
Two MRSA Infection Treatments You Probably Haven’t Heard Of Yet
As MRSA is resistant to several types of antibiotics, though they may initially be prescribed to try to treat it, increasingly a combination of blue light therapy and vitamin D3 are being used as a standard MRSA treatment option.
Blue Light Therapy
Important studies have been consistently showing that two of the most common strains of MRSA can be virtually eliminated through simple exposure to blue light. Though fewer than 5 percent of MRSA strains can be killed by penicillin and 40 to 50 percent of MRSA strains have become resistant to semi-synthetic antibiotics, they appear to have no resistance to blue light, which is free of UV radiation.
Blue light has already received FDA approval for use as an antibiotic in some areas, such as in the mouth and with acne. This is the result of its significant efficacy in killing many types of bacteria without any dangerous side effects.
For more information on blue light therapy for MRSA treatment & prevention, please click here.
Vitamin D3 – The Sunshine Vitamin
Many medical practitioners are also recommending that vitamin D3 be taken in order to help to prevent an MRSA infection, or along with a treatment for one that has already occurred. This recommendation follows a study that showed that individuals deficient in vitamin D are twice as likely to have MRSA bacteria inside their noses.
It is believed that vitamin D3 may help the body protect itself from MRSA by strengthening its innate immune system, as it causes the body to produce defensins and cathelicidin proteins, which act as antibacterial agents.
Together, vitamin D and blue light offer an MRSA treatment that is both effective and to which the bacteria has not developed a resistance.
Blue Light Kills MRSA Superbug
In this study, an average of 90.4% of both US-300 (community acquired) and IS-853 (hospital acquired) strains of MRSA were killed within minutes of exposure to simple blue light. This should be all over the national and world news. Why isn’t it? Maybe people don’t know what it means. Here is what the study said,
“These significant levels of photo-destruction at low dosages indicate that irradiation with 470nm LED light energy may be a practical, inexpensive alternative to treatment with pharmacological agents, particularly in cases involving cutaneous and subcutaneous MRSA infections that are susceptible to non-invasive types of radiation.” Here’s what it means:
“significant levels of photo-destruction” – an average of 90.4% of MRSA bacteria experienced ‘death by light.’
“low dosages” – simple light was used, not low level laser light, not laser light, and it only took a few minutes of exposure to kill significant amounts of bacteria – 30% dying after just 100 seconds of exposure.
“irradiation” – Light shining on something.Light of any color from any source is actually powerful electromagnetic energy, or radiation, and so light of any color can also be called “radiation.”When you shine any light on something, its being irradiated.It’s not as dangerous or expensive as it sounds.These two girls survive by daily high doses of 405-485nm (blue) ”irradiation.”
“470nm” – blue.That’s it.Click here for a more detailed explanation. A previous study was done with similar results with 405nm light, which is visible violet light, very close to UVA on the electromagnetic spectrum.The actual span of the light used in this case was 455-485nm.Since 405nm also worked, it stands to reason that all wavelengths from 405 through 485 would have the same effect.That is blue light, period.
“LED light energy” – as touched on above, all light is energy, the source does not matter.In this case, SLDs (superluminous diodes) were used, which are just the latest advancement in LED lighting – nothing special.LEDs are commonly used in medical research because they largely eliminate the factor of heat.Any blue light source that peaked around 470nm should have produced the same results.
“practical, inexpensive alternative to treatment with pharmacological agents” – easier and cheaper than drugs.They did not mention it’s also 100% natural, having no adverse side effects reported, non-invaisive, painless, simply administered at home… and it’s worth double mention – easy to obtain, easy to use, and very cheap.
“cases involving cutaneous and subcutaniousMRSA infections that are susceptible to non-invasive types of radiation.” – cases of MRSA infections on and just beneath the surface of the skin, where the light is able to penetrate naturally.
[pullquote style=”left”]Since simple blue light killed an average of 90% of MRSA bacteria in the lab, it may turn out to be a practical, inexpensive alternative to treatment with drugs for cases of MRSA infections of or just under the skin in humans.[/pullquote]
Now What?
I would not wait for further studies, FDA approval, or fancy marketing before I tried this out on myself or a loved one battling a MRSA infection on or just under the skin.
The antibacterial properties of blue light have been known for quite some time – in fact the FDA approved blue light to kill acne bacteria in 2002.There are many Acne Treatment Lights already available and in use today containing the same wavelengths used to kill MRSA, it would be very simple for them to be re-purposed immediately in the case of a MRSA infection of the skin not responding to antibiotics. It would also be good to have one of these lights around to disinfect everyday cuts, burns and bites as a matter of MRSA prevention.
We carry a full line of these lights, and a google search of “acne lights” will turn up many more in all price ranges.
Understanding Blue Light Wavelengths
What makes one blue light more effective than another against MRSA is it’s wavelength. Wavelength is the scientific measurement that, when translated into practical terms, means “color.”
The studies referenced on this page have proven that blue light with peak wavelengths of 405 nm and 470 nm are effective against MRSA. What are the differences, and how do they affect your treatment?
[table]
| The Differences Between 405 and 470 nm Blue Light | ||
|---|---|---|
| LED Peak Wavelength: | 405 nm | 470 nm |
| Visible Color: | Violet | Blue |
| Wavelength / Energy: | Shorter wavelength / higher energy | Slightly longer wavelength, slightly less energy |
| Effectiveness: | More effective | Less effective |
| Penetration ofSkin: | Surface only | Penetrates the skin slightly deeper |
| Treatment Time: | Shorter | Longer |
| UV Content: | Likely almost 1/2 UVA content | Likely zero UVA content |
[/table]
If you have questions about which blue light therapy product is best for you, even if you are considering one I don’t sell, I will be happy to help you. If you decide to buy one of our blue lights for MRSA treatment, use coupon code: mrsa to save $20 on any light of your choice.
Further Supporting Research
Click the links for full details.
Study #1
Visible 405 nm SLD light photo-destroys methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vitro
Conclusion: At low doses, blue light photo-destroys HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA in vitro; raising the prospect that phototherapy may be an effective clinical tool in the on-going effort to stem MRSA infections.
Study #2
Conclusion: Appropriate doses of combined 405-nm and 880-nm phototherapy can kill Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro, suggesting that a similar effect may be produced in clinical cases of bacterial infection.
Study #3
Blue 470-nm light kills methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vitro.
Conclusion: At practical dose ranges, 470-nm blue light kills HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA in vitro, suggesting that a similar bactericidal effect may be attained in human cases of cutaneous and subcutaneous MRSA infections.
Study #4
In vitro bactericidal effects of 405-nm and 470-nm blue light.
Conclusion: The results indicate that, in vitro, 405- and 470-nm blue light produce dose dependent bactericidal effects on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus but not Propionibacterium acnes.
