What is Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA?
Staphylococcus aureus, often called “staph” is a type of bacteria commonly found on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Approximately 30% of people have staph in their noses and do not have any symptoms. MRSA which stands for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus is staph that is resistant to commonly used antibiotics such as penicillins and currently available cephalosporins. In the past, MRSA was found only in healthcare facilities and caused infection in people who were sick. More recently, MRSA has emerged in the community and can cause infections in otherwise healthy people.
