• MRSA is a type of staph infection that is resistant to many antibiotics, including some commonly used ones.
• MRSA occurs most frequently in healthcare settings but can also be community acquired.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is a type of staph that is resistant to some antibiotics such as methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin, and amoxicillin. MRSA infections occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and other healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems. These healthcare-associated MRSA infections include infections of surgical wounds, the urinary tract, bloodstream and lungs (pneumonia). HA-MRSA can also cause illness in persons outside of hospitals and healthcare facilities. 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, the insertion of a catheter) are known as community-associated MRSA infections. CA-MRSA infections are usually manifested as skin infections, such as pimples and boils, and occur in otherwise healthy people. However, some severe CA-MRSA infections have also occurred in healthy individuals.

Anyone can get a MRSA infection. People are more likely to get a MRSA infection if they have:

• Skin-to-skin contact with someone who has a MRSA infection
• Contact with items and surfaces that have MRSA on them
• Openings in their skin such as cuts or scrapes
• Crowded living conditions
• Poor personal hygiene or a lack of cleanliness