By David Blyweiss, M.D.

If you’ve checked into the hospital lately, you may have been tested for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a.k.a. MRSA. The reason hospitals are so concerned is because MRSA is caused by a type of bacteria that’s become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat ordinary staph infections. And that can be deadly.

But hospitals aren’t the only place you are at risk. Fitness centers and even nail salons are prime places for MRSA—anywhere that infected items like showers or unsanitary equipment are shared.1 Symptoms begin like a spider bite or pimple that is painful to the touch. The infection worsens to become pus-filled boils accompanied by fever, headache, chills, rash, muscle ache, and fatigue.

Over the past decade, MRSA has spread like wildfire. And because this strain of bacteria isn’t affected by antibiotics, conventional medicine doesn’t have any weapons to attack it. But here’s the good news: a staple fruit long used to combat urinary tract infections just might tackle MRSA, too.

Researchers from Worcester Polytechnic Institute have found that cranberry juice—the same beverage you rely on to keep UTIs at bay—blocks MRSA from beginning the process of infection. They tested cranberry juice cocktail against a placebo drink that looked and tasted like cranberry juice. Urine samples were then tested in petri dishes with either strains of E. coli, the bacteria that causes UTIs, or S. aureus, the bacteria that causes a MRSA infection.

It turns out that, as well as it worked to thwart E. coli, the cranberry juice was even more effective against the MRSA bug.2

I’ve long advocated using an antioxidant-rich cranberry supplement to support a healthy urinary tract. This provides one more reason to take 400 mg of supplemental cranberry extract twice a day.

If you are heading for a stay in the hospital, especially if you are scheduled for surgery, check with your doctor before starting to take a cranberry extract. This bright red berry can interact with certain medications.

Of course, cranberries aren’t your only defense against the MRSA superbug. Here are 7 smart ways to safeguard yourself no matter where you are:

1. Wash your hands frequently or use an alcohol-base hand sanitizer.
2. Keep all scrapes and cuts completely covered with a bandage.
3. Try not to touch your face, nose or eyes since most germs are transmitted that way.
4. At the salon, make sure all equipment has been sterilized properly. You can also bring your own tools including a nail clipper and emery boards.
5. At the gym, clean all equipment pads, handles, and grips with disinfectant wipes or sprays before and after use. Wear workout gloves to provide a barrier between your hands and the equipment.
6. Wear flip-flops in locker room showers and saunas.
7. In the hospital, make sure medical personnel wear sterile gloves and other appropriate gear whenever they examine you or change your bandages.

References:

1. Maree CL. Risk Factors for Infection and Colonization with Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the Los Angeles County Jail: A Case-Control Study. Clinical Infectious Disease. 2010;51:1248-1257.
2. Camesano T. Poster presentation at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society. Boston, MA. August 23, 2010