12/20/2013 03:39 PM EST
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Related MedlinePlus Page: MRSA
Related MedlinePlus Page: MRSA
12/20/2013 03:39 PM EST
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Related MedlinePlus Page: MRSA
Related MedlinePlus Page: MRSA
12/20/2013 03:39 PM EST
12/20/2013 03:39 PM EST
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Related MedlinePlus Page: MRSA
Related MedlinePlus Page: MRSA
12/20/2013 03:39 PM EST
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Related MedlinePlus Page: MRSA
Related MedlinePlus Page: MRSA
12/20/2013 03:39 PM EST
General Information About MRSA in the Community
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.
- Who is at Risk, and How is MRSA Spread in the Community?
- How Common is MRSA?
- Can I Prevent MRSA? How?
- What are MRSA Symptoms?
- What Should I Do If I See These Symptoms?
- What Should I do if I Think I Have a Skin Infection?
- How to Prevent Spreading MRSA If You Have MRSA.
- How are MRSA skin infections treated?
Who is at Risk, and How is MRSA Spread in the Community?
Anyone can get MRSA through direct contact with an infected wound or by sharing personal items, such as towels or razors, that have touched infected skin. MRSA infection risk can be increased when a person is in certain activities or places that involve crowding, skin-to-skin contact, and shared equipment or supplies. This might include athletes, daycare and school students, military personnel in barracks, and people who recently received inpatient medical care.
How Common is MRSA?
Studies show that about one in three people carry staph in their nose, usually without any illness. Two in 100 people carry MRSA. There are not data showing the total number of people who get MRSA skin infections in the community.
Can I Prevent MRSA? How?
There are the personal hygiene steps you can take to reduce your risk of MRSA infection:
- Maintain good hand and body hygiene. Wash hands often, and clean body regularly, especially after exercise.
- Keep cuts, scrapes, and wounds clean and covered until healed.
- Avoid sharing personal items such as towels and razors.
- Get care early if you think you might have an infection.
What are MRSA Symptoms?
Often, people first think the area is a spider bite; however, unless a spider is actually seen, the irritation is likely not a spider bite. Most staph skin infections, including MRSA, appear as a bump or infected area on the skin that might be:
- Red
- Swollen
- Painful
- Warm to the touch
- Full of pus or other drainage
- Accompanied by a fever
Click here for photos of MRSA infections.
What Should I Do If I See These Symptoms?
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. It is especially important to contact your doctor if signs and symptoms of an MRSA skin infection are accompanied by a fever.
What Should I do if I Think I Have a Skin Infection?
- You can’t tell by looking at the skin if it is a staph infection (including MRSA).
- Contact your doctor if you think you have an infection so it can be treated quickly. Finding infections early and getting care will decrease the chance that the infection will become severe.
- 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.
- Infections can also occur at sites covered by body hair or where uniforms or equipment cause skin irritation or increased rubbing.
- Do not try to treat the infection yourself by picking or popping the sore.
- Cover possible infections with clean, dry bandages until you can be seen by a doctor, nurse, or other health care provider such as an athletic trainer.
How to Prevent Spreading MRSA If You Have MRSA
- 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.
How are MRSA skin infections treated?
Treatment for MRSA skin infections may include having a healthcare professional drain the infection and, in some cases, prescribe an antibiotic. Do not attempt to drain the infection yourself – doing so could worsen or spread it to others. If you are given an antibiotic, be sure to take all of the doses (even if the infection is getting better), unless your doctor tells you to stop taking it.
General Information About MRSA in Healthcare Settings
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.
MRSA is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to many antibiotics. 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.
- Who is at Risk, and How is MRSA Spread in Healthcare Settings?
- How Does Someone Know if MRSA is the Cause of an Infection?
- How Common is MRSA?
- Can MRSA Infections be Prevented?
Who is at Risk, and How is MRSA Spread in Healthcare Settings?
MRSA is usually spread by direct contact with an infected wound or from contaminated hands, usually those of healthcare providers. Also, people who carry MRSA but do not have signs of infection can spread the bacteria to others and potentially cause an infection.
How Does Someone Know if MRSA is the Cause of an Infection?
The only way to know if MRSA is the cause of an infection is to perform a laboratory culture of the bacteria. Obtaining bacteria to culture is a procedure done by a doctor.
How Common is MRSA?
CDC is engaged in several short- and long-term surveillance (infection tracking) projects that involve collaboration with health departments, individual hospital, and academic medical centers, among others. Understanding the burden of MRSA – how much is occurring, where it is happening, and how it is being spread – is essential for developing effective prevention programs and measuring their impact. For more information about how CDC tracks MRSA infections, visit this page.
Studies show that about one in three (33%) people carry staph in their nose, usually without any illness. Two in 100 people carry MRSA. There are not data showing the total number of people who get MRSA skin infections in the community.
Although MRSA is still a major patient threat, a CDC study
published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine showed that invasive (life-threatening) MRSA infections in healthcare settings are declining. Invasive MRSA infections that began in hospitals declined 54% between 2005 and 2011, with 30,800 fewer severe MRS infections. In addition, the study showed 9,000 fewer deaths in hospital patients in 2005 versus 2011.
published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine showed that invasive (life-threatening) MRSA infections in healthcare settings are declining. Invasive MRSA infections that began in hospitals declined 54% between 2005 and 2011, with 30,800 fewer severe MRS infections. In addition, the study showed 9,000 fewer deaths in hospital patients in 2005 versus 2011.This study (or report) complements data from the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)that found rates of MRSA bloodstream infections occurring in hospitalized patients fell nearly 50% from 1997 to 2007.
Taken together and with other reports such as the March 2011 CDC Vital Signs article 
[PDF - 2.75 MB], and a 2013 study showing a decrease in overall central line-associated bloodstream infections, these studies provide evidence that rates of hospital-onset, severe MRSA infections in the United States are falling. While MRSA remains an important public health problem and more remains to be done to further decrease risks of developing these infections, this decrease in healthcare-associated MRSA infections is encouraging.
[PDF - 2.75 MB], and a 2013 study showing a decrease in overall central line-associated bloodstream infections, these studies provide evidence that rates of hospital-onset, severe MRSA infections in the United States are falling. While MRSA remains an important public health problem and more remains to be done to further decrease risks of developing these infections, this decrease in healthcare-associated MRSA infections is encouraging.For more information about CDC surveillance programs and reports related to MRSA, visit:
- CDC MRSA website
- CDC Active Bacterial Core Surveillance
- CDC Vital Signs Report
- National Healthcare Safety Network
- NHSN Annual Reports
- CDC Safe Healthcare Blog
- CDC Funding to Prevent HAIs including MRSA
To see how states are working to prevent HAIs including MRSA, view this interactive map of state-based prevention activities.
For information about how to protect yourself and your loved ones from MRSA, visit the MRSA patient page.
Can MRSA Infections be Prevented?
Yes. Numerous studies and reports show that when healthcare providers follow CDC guidelines, MRSA infections can largely – if not completely – be prevented. These guidelines include a range of activities that healthcare facilities can employ to reduce or eliminate MRSA infections.
Click here to see a series of CDC Safe Healthcare Blog entries about MRSA prevention topics, including recently published articles.
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