What is Staphylococcus aureus (staph)? What is MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)? Who gets staph or MRSA infections? What is community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA)? How common are staph and MRSA infections? What does a staph or MRSA infection look like? Are certain people at increased risk for community-associated staph or MRSA infections? How can I prevent staph or MRSA skin infections? Can I get a staph or MRSA infection at my health club? What should I do if I think I have a staph or MRSA infection? Are staph and MRSA infections treatable? Is it possible that my staph or MRSA skin infection will come back after it is cured? If I have a staph, or MRSA skin infection, what can I do to prevent others from getting infected? What should I do if someone I know has a staph or MRSA infection? What is Staphylococcus aureus (staph)? Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as "staph," are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Approximately 25% to 30% of the population carries staph in their nose, without being infected. Sometimes, staph can cause an infection. Most of these skin infections are minor (such as pimples and boils) and can be treated without antibiotics. However, staph bacteria also can cause serious infections (such as surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia). What is MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)? Some staph bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. MRSA is a type of staph that is resistant to antibiotics called beta-lactams. Beta-lactam antibiotics include methicillin and other antibiotics similar to penicillin, as well as other antibiotics commonly used to treat skin infections, such as keflex. Approximately 1% of people carry MRSA. Who gets staph or MRSA infections? Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems. These healthcare-associated staph infections include surgical wound infections, kidney and bladder infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia. What is community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA)? Staph and MRSA can also cause illness in persons outside of hospitals and healthcare facilities. MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been hospitalized within the past year or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as CA-MRSA infections. Staph or MRSA infections in the community usually appear as skin infections, such as pimples and boils, and occur in otherwise healthy people. How common are staph and MRSA infections? Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infection in the United States and are a common cause of pneumonia, surgical wound infections, and bloodstream infections. The majority of MRSA infections occur among patients in hospitals or other healthcare settings; however, it is becoming more common in the community setting. What does a staph or MRSA infection look like? Staph bacteria, including MRSA, can cause skin infections that may look like a pimple or boil and can be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage. Many times people think they have "spider bites." More serious infections may cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or surgical wound infections. Are certain people at increased risk for community-associated staph or MRSA infections? Factors that have been associated with the spread of MRSA skin infections include: close skin-to-skin contact, openings in the skin such as cuts or abrasions, contaminated surfaces, the sharing of contaminated items, crowded living conditions, and poor hygiene. How can I prevent staph or MRSA skin infections? Practice good hygiene: Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 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 or razors. Can I get a staph or MRSA infection at my health club? In the outbreaks of MRSA, the environment has not played a significant role in the spread of MRSA. MRSA is spread most frequently by direct skin-to-skin contact. You can protect yourself from infections by practicing good hygiene (e.g., keeping your hands clean by washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub and showering after working out); covering any open skin area such as skin sores or cuts with a clean dry bandage; avoiding sharing personal items such as towels or razors; covering your skin with clothing or a towel when using shared equipment; and wiping surfaces of equipment before and after use. What should I do if I think I have a staph or MRSA infection? See your healthcare provider. Are staph and MRSA infections treatable? Yes. Most staph and MRSA infections are treatable with antibiotics. Examples of these antibiotics include Bactrim, doxycycline, or clindamycin. If you are given an antibiotic, take all of the doses, even if the infection is getting better, unless your doctor tells you to stop taking the antibiotics. Do not share antibiotics with other people or save unfinished antibiotics to use at another time.However, many staph skin infections are treated by simply draining the abscess or boil and antibiotics are not necessarily required. Drainage of skin boils or abscesses should only be done by a healthcare provider. If after visiting your healthcare provider the infection is not getting better after a few days, contact your provider again. If other people you know or live with get the same infection tell them to go to their healthcare provider. Is it possible that my staph or MRSA skin infection will come back after it is cured? Yes. It is possible to have a staph or MRSA skin infection come back after it is cured. To prevent this from happening, follow your healthcare provider’s directions while you have the infection, and follow the prevention steps outlined below after the infection is gone. If I have a staph, or MRSA skin infection, what can I do to prevent others from getting infected? You can prevent spreading staph or MRSA skin infections to others by following these prevention steps: Cover your wound. Keep wounds that are draining or have pus covered with clean, dry bandages. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions on proper care of the wound. Pus from infected wounds can contain staph and MRSA, so keeping the infection covered will help prevent the spread to others. Bandages or tape can be discarded with the regular trash. Clean your hands. You, your family, and others in close contact should wash their hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after changing bandages or touching the infected wound. Do not share personal items. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, or uniforms that may have had contact with the infected wound or bandage. Wash sheets, towels, and clothes that become soiled with water and laundry detergent. Drying clothes in a hot dryer, rather than air-drying, also helps kill bacteria . Talk to your doctor. Tell any healthcare provider who treats you that you have or had a staph or MRSA skin infection. What should I do if someone I know has a staph or MRSA infection? If you know someone that has a staph or MRSA infection you should follow the prevention steps outlined above. last updated: 10/22/07