How to Tell if an Infection is MRSA or Simple Staph

Is it MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) or only Staphylococcus aureus (staph)?

Things You'll Need

• a log of where you have been and what you have done
• pictures of the infection in current state and more pictures if it does progress

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Instructions

• 1

  Determine whether you have been in contact with someone with MRSA. This includes close quarters or physical contact with someone who is infected.

• 2

  Review whether you have been in locations in the past few weeks that are known to pose as CA-MRSA risk. This includes gyms, exercise mats used by many people, hospitals and nursing homes. This increases your risk of picking up MRSA.

• 3

  Have you had surgery or been in intensive care as a patient? If so, you are at heightened risk for MRSA due to increased likelihood of exposure in a healthcare setting as well as having a depressed immune system from the injury or surgery.

• 4

  Have you been taking antibiotics for staph, or any other condition, while the disease has gotten worse? If so, you are at greater risk of MRSA.

• 5

  Have you been exposed to any highly allergenic substances? If so, try to avoid exposure to it and see if the rash goes away. You do not want to go in for MRSA for a case of acute dermatitis.

• 6

  Yeast rash can mimic MRSA or conventional Staphylococcus aureus. Is the area frequently moist and/or chaffed? Try airing the area (even if the pubic region) and applying anti-fungal creams.

• 7

  Is there pus in the pimple like appearance? This increases the likelihood that it is MRSA. However, if this symptom set occurs in children, there is the possibility that it is chicken pox, fifth disease, or another herpes simplex related virus. See a pediatrician to determine whether it is actually an early childhood illness before assuming it is MRSA.