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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is caused by a strain of staph bacteria that's become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat ordinary staph infections. Most MRSA infections occur in people who've been in hospitals or other health care settings, such as nursing homes and dialysis centers. When it occurs in these settings, it's known as health care-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA). HA-MRSA infections typically are associated with invasive procedures or devices, such as surgeries, intravenous tubing or artificial joints. Another type of MRSA infection has occurred in the wider community — among healthy people. This form, community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA), often begins as a painful skin boil. It's spread by skin-to-skin contact. At-risk populations include groups such as high school wrestlers, child care workers and people who live in crowded conditions.

strain of staph bacteria that's become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat ordinary staph infections.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is caused by a strain of staph bacteria that's become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat ordinary staph infections.

Most MRSA infections occur in people who've been in hospitals or other health care settings, such as nursing homes and dialysis centers. When it occurs in these settings, it's known as health care-associated MRSA

Most MRSA infections occur in people who've been in hospitals or other health care settings, such as nursing homes and dialysis centers. When it occurs in these settings, it's known as health care-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA). HA-MRSA infections typically are associated with invasive procedures or devices, such as surgeries, intravenous tubing or artificial joints.

Most MRSA infections occur in people who've been in hospitals or other health care settings, such as nursing homes and dialysis centers.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is caused by a strain of staph bacteria that's become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat ordinary staph infections.

little is known about where else these deadly critters might be hiding,

exception of new research based out of New York City.

discovered that superbugs like MRSA are literally jumping ship from hospitals into people's homes, which are becoming "major reservoirs" for these deadly strains.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the study involved looking at the homes of 161 New York City residents who contracted MRSA between the years of 2009 and 2011. Dr. Anne-Catrin Uhlemann and her colleagues took bacterial samples from each of the individuals, as well as from a comparison group not infected with the pathogen.

common MRSA strain known as USA300, which CBS News says is a leading cause of community MRSA infections across the U.S., was found inside the homes of many of the infected participants. It was also found in a similar genetic form in these participants' family members, suggesting that MRSA literally breeds within individual households when not fully eradicated.

certain with regards to how significant the threat of a superbug infection is from surfaces, as bacteria tend not to survive very long without access to appropriate temperatures and moisture levels. But almost everyone is in agreement that it is probably not a good idea to leave surfaces unattended and to always sanitize them to avoid infection.

Human beings are a much bigger threat

3 to 4 hours after eating the meal, the three adults--who had not eaten another common meal together in the preceding week--had nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps.

not become ill.

Vomiting ceased after treatment with phenothiazine,

welve cultures of S. aureus recovered from stool samples of the ill family members, food specimens, and nasal swabs of the food preparers were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further testing.

This strain produced staphylococcal enterotoxin C and was identified as being MRSA.

esistant to penicillin and oxacillin

wo different strains of S. aureus recovered from the nasal swab of food preparer B

She reported no recent gastrointestinal illness nor chronic health problems, history of admission to a hospital, or use of antibiotics in the previous 6 months.

visit an elderly relative, who resided in a nursing home, approximately 2 to 3 times each month before the outbreak.

positive for two different strains of MSSA, but not MRSA

Staphylococcal food poisoning is estimated to account for 185,000 foodborne illnesses per year in the United States;

, MRSA has been considered primarily a health- care-associated pathogen, causing invasive disease in which multidrug resistance poses a substantial challenge to successful treatment.

s 20% to 40% of adults are estimated to be colonized at any time, a

MRSA becomes increasingly common in the community

Red Swollen Painful Warm to the touch Full of pus or other drainage Accompanied by a fever

If you or someone in your family experiences these signs and symptoms, cover the area with a bandage, wash your hands, and contact your doctor

You can’t tell by looking at the skin if it is a staph infection (including

Contact your doctor if you think you have an infection so it can be treated quickly

Signs of infection include redness, warmth, swelling, pus, and pain at sites where your skin has sores, abrasions, or cuts. Sometimes these infections can be confused with spider bites

Do not try to treat the infection yourself by picking or popping the sore

Cover your wounds. Keep wounds covered with clean, dry bandages until healed. Follow your doctor’s instructions about proper care of the wound. Pus from infected wounds can contain MRSA so keeping the infection covered will help prevent the spread to others. Bandages and tape can be thrown away with the regular trash. Clean your hands often. You, your family, and others in close contact should wash their hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub, especially after changing the bandage or touching the infected wound. Do not share personal items. Personal items include towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, and uniforms. Wash used sheets, towels, and clothes with water and laundry detergent. Use a dryer to dry them completely. Wash clothes according to manufacturer’s instructions on the label.

Treatment for MRSA skin infections may include having a healthcare professional drain the infection and, in some cases, prescribe an antibioti

MRSA is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to several antibiotics. In the general community, MRSA can cause skin and other infections. In a healthcare setting, such as a hospital or nursing home, MRSA can cause severe problems such as bloodstream infections, pneumonia and surgical site infections. For more information visit MRSA in healthcare settings.

Garden-variety staph are common bacteria that can live in our bodies.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. It's tougher to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus -- or staph -- because it's resistant to some commonly used antibiotics.

MRSA infections are common among people who have weak immune systems and are in hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care centers. Infections can appear around surgical wounds or invasive devices, like catheters or implanted feeding tubes. 

(MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. It's tougher to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus -- or staph -- because it's resistant to some commonly used antibiotics.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. It's tougher to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus -- or staph -- because it's resistant to some commonly used antibiotics.

some antibiotics still work,

methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA),

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body

it causes mild infections on the skin, like sores or boils. But it can also cause more serious skin infections or infect surgical wounds, the bloodstream, the lungs, or the urinary tract.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. It's tougher to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus -- or staph -- because it's resistant to some commonly used antibiotics.

2005, admissions were triple the number in 2000 and 10-fold higher

In 2005 in th

e United

States alone, 368,600 hospital admissions for MRSA—including 94,000 invasive infections—resulted in 18,650 deaths.

MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

MRSA has evolved unpredictable resistance and epidemiology patterns in response to decades of successful antibiotic treatments that have been prescribed in all environments and have saved millions of lives.

The most frequent primary diagnosis associated with other S aureus–related infections was cellulitis and abscess, followed by postoperative infection, infections from an implanted device (Fig. 1), or graft and osteomyelitis.

As MRSA spreads into hospitals from the community, current insurance company and proposed governmental policies that penalize the healthcare system may be inappropriate.

MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Community outbreaks have been reported in sports teams, child care attendees, prison inmates, and diverse populations where habitation is relatively concentrated.

normal for healthy people to have staph on their skin. Many of us do.

sign of a staph skin infection is a red, swollen, and painful area on the skin. Pus or other fluids may drain from this area. It may look like a boil. These symptoms are more likely to occur if the skin has been cut or rubbed, because this gives the MRSA germ a way to "get in."

These staph infections may be in the bloodstream, heart, lungs or other organs, urine, or in the area of a recent surgery. Some symptoms of these severe infections include:Chest painCough or shortness of breathFatigueFever and chillsGeneral ill feelingHeadacheRashWounds that do not heal

cotton swab is used to collect a sample from an open skin rash or skin sore. Or, a sample of blood, urine, sputum (spit), or pus from an abscess may be collected. The sample is sent to a lab to test for staph and MRSA. If MRSA is found, it will be tested to see which antibiotic should be used to treat your infection.

Do not try to pop open or drain the infection yourself. Keep any sore or wound covered with a clean bandage.

Outlook (Prognosis) Expand Section How well a person does depends on how severe the infection is, and the person's overall health. Pneumonia and blood infections due to MRSA are linked with high death rates.

Prevention Expand Section Follow these steps to avoid a staph infection and to prevent an infection from spreading:Keep your hands clean by washing them thoroughly with soap and water. Or, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with bandages until they heal.Avoid contact with other people's wounds or bandages.Do NOT share personal items such as towels, clothing, or cosmetics.

Cover wounds with a clean bandage. Do NOT touch other people's bandages.Wash your hands well before and after playing sports.Shower right after exercising. Do NOT share soap, razors, or towels.If you share sports equipment, clean it first with antiseptic solution or wipes. Place clothing or a towel between your skin and the equipment.Do NOT use a common whirlpool or sauna if another person with an open sore used it. Always use clothing or a towel as a barrier.Do NOT share splints, bandages, or braces.Check that shared shower facilities are clean. If they are not clean, shower at home.

MRSA infection in a dairy cow

MRSA infections reported in horses, dogs, cats, pet birds, cattle and pigs.

MRSA is spread by direct physical contact with another person or animal

Athletes Military recruits People with weakened immune systems (i.e., immunocompromised)

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Hospital patients Incarcerated individuals Nursing home residents

Children in day care

(reverse zoonotic

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus or MRSA (usually pronounced "mur-sah") is a type of bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacterium on skin, and it is not usually a problem. However, when the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria are not susceptible to the antibiotic methicillin (ie, methicillin does not kill the bacteria or stop its growth), it is considered to be MRSA. Bacteria resistant to methicillin are often resistant to other antibiotics as well.

If MRSA is present, it is commonly carried on the skin or in the nasal passages of healthy people and/or pets. If an infection is present, it can be found almost anywhere—especially where there's a skin wound or sore

does not exhibit symptoms of disease is considered to be "colonized

who do exhibit symptoms

considered "infected"

Factors that facilitate transmission include crowded environments, frequent skin-to-skin contact, compromised skin, contaminated surfaces, shared items, and poor hygiene

Physical Therapy

Persons with skin infections should keep wounds covered, wash hands frequently (always after touching infected skin or changing dressings), dispose of used bandages in trash, and avoid sharing personal items. Individuals with skin infections should avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, and saunas until the infection is resolved.

The best defense to an infection is good hygiene

Do not share food, drink, clothes, towels, soap, combs, brushes, and other personal care items. Dry using a clean, dry towel and do not share towels

Use a plastic bag or impervious container for transporting sporting goods and laundry home for cleaning

Only those individuals who are unable to keep infected skin covered with a clean, dry bandage and maintain good personal hygiene should stop participating in classes, work, sports activities, etc. In general, it is not necessary to close facilities to disinfect them when MRSA infections occur.