Circumcision Increases MRSA Risk

The National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers (known as NOCIRC) released a warning last week regarding the increased risk of MRSA for newborn boys who are circumcised.

MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus also known as the "Super Bug". Staphylococcus is a bacterial staph infection. MRSA is much harder to treat as it's immune to most antibiotic treatments. MRSA can be deadly and has been referred to the flesh eating disease in regards to how it attacks the tissues of the body.

MRSA tends to be found in hospital settings and occasionally clinics and outpatient Doctor's offices. Often, health care workers are carriers which can be highly dangerous as they come in contact with patients who have compromised immune systems every time they go to work.

MRSA has spread quickly and new strains have developed so that it's reached the community on a bigger level. This is known as CA-MRSA or community MRSA which has begun replacing ordinary treatable staph infections. The CA-MRSA is then brought into hospitals by employees, patients and visitors and spread thus further.

Newborns in nurseries, particularly NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Units) are at great risk of complications and even death when infected by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. For comparison, MRSA death rates are 1.5 times higher per year than HIV. That's a lot of tragedies that could possibly be avoided.

Boys who are circumcised now have a 12 times higher risk of contracting MRSA than those who are left intact. Newborns immune systems are developing and immature in many aspects. Once they have an open wound, the risk is that much higher.

Circumcisions are often done in hospitals where MRSA circulates. Surgical tools are used for the procedure and while they are hopefully adequately sanitized, the increased chance of bacteria entering a fresh opening into the body makes MRSA more likely to invade.