Fact Sheet

WHO^†

• Anyone can get MRSA skin infections.
• They are more common among hospital patients, people in long term care facilities like nursing homes and prisons.
• MRSA infections are becoming more common in the community. The infections occur among children and care givers in day care centers, athletes and people who inject “street” drugs.

WHAT

• MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. These are staph bacteria that have become resistant to certain antibiotics, making them more difficult to treat.
• MRSA skin infections are generally minor, such as pimples, boils and other skin conditions. They are often mistaken for spider bites. Left untreated, these infections can get worse.

WHERE

• MRSA skin infections can occur anywhere.
• Some settings have factors that make it easier for MRSA to be transmitted.
These factors, referred to as the 5 C's, are as follows: Crowding, frequent skin-to-skin Contact, Compromised skin (i.e., cuts or abrasions), Contaminated items and surfaces, and lack of Cleanliness.
Locations where the 5 C's are common include schools, dormitories, military barracks, households, correctional facilities, and daycare centers.

WHEN

• With the discovery of penicillin and other antibiotics in the 1940s many scientists declared victory over infectious diseases once and for all. These medicines were so powerful against staphylococcus, (staph) and other bacteria that they were hailed as “magic bullets”. But antibiotic-resistant staph soon developed.
• The first documented MRSA outbreak in the United States occurred at a Boston hospital in 1968. Until recently it spread primarily among hospital patients, nursing home residents, and chronically ill persons.
• Now, a newer strain of MRSA, called community acquired, or CA MRSA, is causing infections in healthy persons with no history of health care contact.

HOW

• How do you get MRSA?:
  

  Touching someone’s MRSA-infected skin

  Touching surfaces that have MRSA on them, like doorknobs, light switches and keyboards

  Sharing personal hygiene items (bar soap, towels, razors)

  Not having the resources to keep clean

  Overusing antibiotics, also stopping them early, or missing doses

• How can you prevent the spread of MRSA infections to others?:
  

  Know the signs of MRSA skin infections and get treated early

  Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered

  Cover skin infections with clean bandages. Pus and drainage from the infection can easily spread to others. Wear clothing that covers the infected area.

  Wash your hands! Wash hands with soap and water frequently throughout the day, especially after touching the wound or changing bandages. Soap does not need to be “antibacterial” soap.

  Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after direct contact with another person’s skin.

  Do not share personal care items such as towels, razors or bar soap with others.

  Clean your bathroom and personal care items frequently.

  Wash towels, bedding and clothing in hot water and bleach. Dry these items in a hot air dryer to help kill the bacteria.

  Wipe down shared desks, keyboards, phones and light switches regularly.

  Tell your healthcare providers if you have a history of MRSA skin infection.

1. † Sources for this article include the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and the Centers for Disease Control [↩]