Facts on MRSA Disease

MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a certain type of staph infection which usually affects the skin. Although it can be treated, it is resistant to most common antibiotics, and it can sometimes result in organ failure or fatality. It is often referred to as the "super-bug."

Transmission

• MRSA can be spread by direct skin-to-skin contact or through contact with an item or surface that an infected person has also touched.

Symptoms

• The infection most often manifests on the skin where there are cuts or damage, and it can cause sores or boils that are red, swollen or painful. More serious infections may include symptoms such as fever, head or muscle aches, shortness of breath, chills and fatigue.

Types

• There are two types of MRSA infection: health care associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) and community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). Although people who have weak immune systems and elderly individuals are at the highest risk of getting HA-MRSA, CA-MRSA is also a possibility among those who come into contact with the infection elsewhere.

Diagnosis

• Blood, skin, urine or sputum cultures may be obtained to determine if a person has been infected with MRSA. If there is drainage coming from the affected area, that fluid may be tested as well.

Prevention

• Good habits such as hand-washing and not sharing personal items can reduce an individual's chances of contracting a MRSA infection.