What is MRSA?

MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus, or more simply "staph," are bacteria that often live in the nose or on the skin of healthy people. When these bacteria penetrate the skin or invade other parts of the body, a staph infection may result. Staph bacteria that are resistant to the action of methicillin and related antibiotics are referred to as "methicillin-resistant staph aureus" or MRSA. MRSA are not only resistant to all penicillin-like antibiotics, but they are often resistant to many other types of antibiotics as well. Infections with MRSA can be costly and difficult to treat because of limited antibiotic options. In the past, MRSA has been a problem mainly in healthcare settings such as hospitals and nursing homes (healthcare-associated MRSA). Recently however, there have been many reports of MRSA infections occurring among persons in the general community without any healthcare contact (community-associated MRSA).  more

“MRSA” stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. This is a type of infection caused by bacteria that are commonly called “staph”. “Staph” bacteria normally live on the skin or in a person’s nose. “Staph” infections usually cause boils or other skin infections. More serious cases can occur. MRSA is a type of “staph” that has become resistant to some of the commonly-used antibiotics. These MRSA infections can be treated, but different antibiotics have to be used.

MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus is a type of bacteria with lots of different strains. Many strains of staph bacteria are quite common. Most people have staph bacteria living on their skin or in their noses without causing any problems. If staph bacteria get into a person's body through a cut, scrape, or rash, they can cause minor skin infections. Most of these heal on their own if a person keeps the wound clean and bandaged. Sometimes doctors prescribe antibiotics to treat more stubborn staph infections. What makes the MRSA different from other staph infections is that it has built up an immunity to the antibiotics doctors usually use to treat staph infections. (Methicillin is a type of antibiotic, which is why the strain is called "methicillin-resistant.") MRSA can also cause more serious infections, such as pneumonia, although this is rare.  more

MRSA stands for m ethicillin- r esistant s taphylococcus a ureus. Staphylococcus aureus , or more simply "staph," are bacteria that often live in the nose or on the skin of healthy people. When these bacteria penetrate the skin or invade other parts of the body, a staph infection may result. Staph bacteria that are resistant to the action of methicillin (a type of penicillin) and related antibiotics are referred to as MRSA.  more

The term MRSA emerged in the recent times . Pronounced as MER-SUH, it has in fact created panic among...  more

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) MRSA it caused over 94,000 cases in 2005. Of that number, approximately 19,000 died from the infection.  more

This page has information on a type of infection called MRSA.  more

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. It's tougher to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus -- or staph -- because it's resistant to some commonly used antibiotics. The symptoms of MRSA depend on where you're infected. Most often, it causes mild infections on the skin, causing pimples or boils. But it can also cause more serious skin infections or infect surgical wounds, the bloodstream, the lungs, or the urinary tract. document.  more

MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The term is used to describe a number of strains of the bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, that are resistant to a number of antibiotics, including methicillin.  more

Staphylococus Aureus is a bacterium that is found in the nose of approximately 30% of the population. It colonises the nose and occasionally the skin, usually causing no ill effects to the individual. However, if it enters the body tissues it can cause infections such as boils and wound infections. Sometimes this bacterium is resistant to commonly used antibiotics and, if it is resistant to Flucloxacillin, it is called Methicillin Resistant Staphylococus Aureus, or MRSA (Flucloxacillin is used for treating patients, while Methicillin is used in the laboratory for testing the sensitivity of Staphylococus Aureus, but is not used therapeutically). The chances of contracting MRSA in a NHS hospital are 30 times greater than the an independent sector hospital. One of the key interventions in minimising cross-infection from patient to staff and from staff to patient is by maintaing clean hospitals and thorough and effective hand decontamination between every patient contact, i.e.