So, what does MRSA look like?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides the following layperson's description of what MRSA looks like:

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. More serious infections may cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or surgical wound infections.

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Other useful descriptions of the MRSA infection include:

• Sores that look like "spider bites" or "bug bites"
• An abscess or boil - i.e. large, red, painful bumps under the skin
• Blisters filled with pus (impetigo)
• Turf burn - cuts that are hot, swollen and filled with pus

Visit the MRSA pictures page to view examples of the various forms that MRSA skin infections can take.

If you think you may have a MRSA infection, you should see your healthcare provider. MRSA infections are treatable with prescribed antibiotics or by draining the abscess or boil (often not requiring antibiotics). However, drainage of skin boils or abscesses should only be done by a healthcare provider to prevent the infection from entering the bloodstream.