MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It causes an infection that is resistant to several common antibiotics. There are two types of infection. Hospital-associated MRSA happens to people in healthcare settings. Community-associated MRSA happens to people who have close skin-to-skin contact with others, such as athletes involved in football and wrestling.
Infection control is key to stopping MRSA in hospitals. To prevent community-associated MRSA
- Practice good hygiene
- Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed
- Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages
- Avoid sharing personal items, such as towels, washcloths, razors, or clothes
- Wash soiled sheets, towels and clothes in hot water with bleach and dry in a hot dryer
If a wound appears to be infected, see a healthcare provider. Treatment may include draining the infection and antibiotics.
What is MRSA?
MRSA is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a potentially dangerous type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics and may cause skin and other infections. As with all regular staph infections, recognizing the signs and receiving treatment for MRSA skin infections in the early stages reduces the chances of the infection becoming severe. MRSA is spread by:
- Having direct contact with another person’s infection
- Sharing personal items, such as towels or razors, that have touched infected skin
- Touching surfaces or items, such as used bandages, contaminated with MRSA
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What are the
signs and
symptoms of MRSA skin infections? Most staph skin infections, including MRSA, appear as a bump or infected area on the skin that may be:
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What if I suspect an MRSA skin infection?
Cover the area with a bandage and contact your healthcare professional. It is especially important to contact your healthcare professional if signs and symptoms of an MRSA skin infection are accompanied by a fever.
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 healthcare professional tells you to stop taking it.
How can I protect my family from MRSA skin infections?
- Know the signs of MRSA and get it treated early
- Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered
- Encourage good hygiene such as cleaning hands regularly
- Discourage sharing of personal items such as towels and razors
Information for Healthcare Professionals
When a patient has a skin infection, it may very likely be MRSA.
Recent data suggest that MRSA in the community is increasing. The spectrum of disease caused by MRSA appears to be similar to that of Staphylococcus aureus in the community. Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), specifically furuncles (abscessed hair follicles or “boils”), carbuncles (coalesced masses of furuncles), and abscesses, are the most frequently reported clinical manifestations. The role of MRSA in cellulitis without abscess or purulent drainage is less clear since cultures are rarely obtained.
When to Consider MRSA
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages you to consider MRSA in the differential diagnosis of SSTIs compatible with S. aureus infections, especially those that are purulent (fluctuant or palpable fluid-filled cavity, yellow or white center, central point or “head,” draining pus, or possible to aspirate pus with needle or syringe). A patient’s presenting complaint of “spider bite” should raise suspicion of a S. aureus infection.
Primary Treatment Options for MRSA Skin Infections
Incision and drainage constitutes the primary therapy for these purulent skin infections. Empiric antimicrobial coverage for MRSA may be warranted in addition to incision and drainage based on clinical assessment (e.g., presence of systemic symptoms, severe local symptoms, immune suppression, extremes of patient age, infections in a difficult to drain area, or lack of response to incision and drainage alone). For severe infections, consider consulting with an infectious disease specialist. Obtaining specimens for culture and susceptibility testing is useful to guide therapy, particularly for those who fail to respond adequately to initial management.
MRSA skin infections can develop into more serious infections. It is important to discuss a follow-up plan with your patients in case they develop systemic symptoms or worsening local symptoms, or if symptoms do not improve within 48 hours.
What is MRSA?
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an antimicrobial-resistant type of S. aureus that is resistant to currently available beta-lactam antibiotics including penicillins (e.g., penicillin, amoxicillin), “anti-staphylococcal” penicillins (e.g., methicillin, oxacillin), and cephalosporins (e.g., cephalexin).
Educate Patients to Prevent Spread
Patient education is a critical component of MRSA case management. Healthcare professionals should educate patients, caretakers and, when possible, household members on methods to avoid MRSA transmission to close contacts.
MRSA is typically spread by:
- Having direct contact with another person’s infection
- Sharing personal items, such as towels or razors, that have touched infected skin
- Touching surfaces or items such as used bandages contaminated with MRSA
