Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
MSSA arrived quietly, without unnecessary drama. Predictable and courteous, he followed the usual clinical trajectory of fever, positive blood cultures, appropriate management, and steady improvement. The team appreciated his transparency; he respected the rules of engagement and left promptly once his source was addressed. There were no consult wars, no prolonged discussions but just a clean resolution and a satisfied discharge summary.
MRSA, however, was a different story altogether. He entered the bloodstream with confidence and defiance, fully aware of his reputation. The moment his name appeared on the microbiology report, the atmosphere changed. The primary team sighed, pharmacy frowned, and infection control started whispering about isolation protocols. MRSA thrived on attention and turning every simple bacteremia into a multidisciplinary production involving ID, nursing, infection prevention, and sometimes even hospital administration. He lingered longer than anyone wanted, testing the limits of patience, policy, and resource allocation. With coordinated teamwork, careful management, and more meetings than anyone cared to count, MRSA was finally cleared from the bloodstream.
