Patients with skin infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA are showing up in increasing numbers in Bell County clinics and hospitals, a Fort Hood doctor says.

"In the past year, community-acquired MRSA has expanded in our region,” said Dr. Gary Holmes, chief of infectious diseases at Darnall Army Community Hospital.

“At least two large hospital microbiology laboratories in Bell County, including the Darnall Army Community Hospital laboratory, are reporting between 60 and 75 percent of all Staph aureus isolates to be MRSA," Holmes said.

"We alerted our providers last summer so we are able to recognize and treat patients quickly." Almost all patients with MRSA are coming in from the community, not from hospital-acquired infections as was most common five years ago,” he said.

Click Here For More Information On MRSA From The Centers For Disease Control

MRSA is not at the epidemic stage, Holmes said, but is easily spread by skin contact.

Area healthcare providers are reporting an increase in the number of serious boils and skin infections, he said.

Those at greatest risk for serious or recurring MRSA infections have oily skin, are significantly overweight, tend to get overheated and sweaty and wear tight clothing that doesn’t allow the skin to breath, Fort Hood said.

Soldiers often have some of these risk factors, Fort Hood said, and are at high risk of becoming infected through direct skin contact, as well as contact with contaminated surfaces such as toilet and locker room seats.

"Any activity that produces sweating and inadequate ventilation of the skin encourages bacteria overgrowth. Bacteria grow back onto the skin within several hours after a daily shower, even after using common antibacterial soaps available in grocery stores," Holmes said.

Active duty personnel who have MRSA may not be deployed because they may require specific antibiotics or injections that may not be available in the field.

Children are also susceptible to getting MRSA, Holmes said.

Early treatment is the key to managing infections, Holmes said.

Left untreated, MRSA may invade the bloodstream and could cause potentially deadly organ infections.

"Pay attention to personal hygiene by frequently showering and washing hands. Be aware of touching surfaces that others have touched. Alcohol-based hand disinfectants are reliably effective in killing MRSA," Holmes said.