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Staphylococcus
aureus, often referred to simply as "staph," are bacteria
commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people.
Approximately 25% to 30% of the population is colonized (when
bacteria are present, but not causing an infection) in the nose
with staph bacteria. Sometimes, staph can cause an infection.
Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections
in the United States. Most of these skin infections are minor
(such as pimples and boils) and can be treated without antibiotics
(also known as antimicrobials or antibacterials). However, staph
bacteria also can cause serious infections (such as surgical
wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia).
What is MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)?
Some staph bacteria are resistant to antibiotics.
MRSA is a type of staph that is resistant to antibiotics called
beta-lactams. Beta-lactam antibiotics include methicillin and other
more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin.
While 25% to 30% of the population is colonized with staph, approximately
1% is colonized with MRSA.
Who gets staph or MRSA infections?
Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals
and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who
have weakened immune systems. These healthcare-associated staph infections
include surgical wound infections, urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections,
and pneumonia.
What is community-associated MRSA
(CA-MRSA)?
Staph and MRSA can also cause illness in persons outside of hospitals and healthcare
facilities. MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been
recently (within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such
as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are know as CA-MRSA infections. Staph or MRSA
infections in the community are usually manifested as skin infections, such
as pimples and boils, and occur in otherwise healthy people.
How common are staph and MRSA infections?
Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infection in the United
States and are a common cause of pneumonia, surgical wound infections, and
bloodstream infections. The majority of MRSA infections occur among patients
in hospitals or other healthcare settings; however, it is becoming more common
in the community setting. Data from a prospective study in 2003, suggests that
12% of clinical MRSA infections are community-associated, but this varies by
geographic region and population.
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.
Are certain people at increased risk
for community-associated staph or MRSA infections?
CDC has investigated clusters of CA-MRSA skin infections among athletes, military
recruits, children, Pacific Islanders, Alaskan Natives, Native Americans, men
who have sex with men, and prisoners.
Factors that have been associated with the spread of MRSA skin infections include:
close skin-to-skin contact, openings in the skin such as cuts or abrasions,
contaminated items and surfaces, crowded living conditions, and poor hygiene.
How can I prevent staph or MRSA skin
infections?
Practice good hygiene:
1. Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using
an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
2. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
3. Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
4. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.
Are people who are positive for the human immune deficiency virus (HIV) at
increased risk for MRSA? Should they be taking special precautions?
People with weakened immune systems, which include some patients with HIV infection,
may be at risk for more severe illness if they get infected with MRSA. People
with HIV should follow the same prevention measures as those without HIV to
prevent staph infections, including practice good hygiene, cover wounds (e.g.,
cuts or abrasions) with clean dry bandages, avoid sharing personal items such
as towels and razors, and contact their doctor if they think they have an infection.
Can I get a staph or MRSA infection at my health club?
In the outbreaks of MRSA, the environment has not played a significant role
in the transmission of MRSA. MRSA is transmitted most frequently by direct
skin-to-skin contact. You can protect yourself from infections by practicing
good hygiene (e.g., keeping your hands clean by washing with soap and water
or using an alcohol-based hand rub and showering after working out); covering
any open skin area such as abrasions or cuts with a clean dry bandage; avoiding
sharing personal items such as towels or razors; using a barrier (e.g., clothing
or a towel) between your skin and shared equipment; and wiping surfaces of
equipment before and after use.
What should I do if I think I have
a staph or MRSA infection?
See your healthcare provider.
Are staph and MRSA infections treatable?
Yes. Most staph and MRSA infections are treatable with antibiotics. If you
are given an antibiotic, take all of the doses, even if the infection is getting
better, unless your doctor tells you to stop taking it. Do not share antibiotics
with other people or save unfinished antibiotics to use at another time.
However, many staph skin infections may be treated by draining the abscess
or boil and may not require antibiotics. Drainage of skin boils or abscesses
should only be done by a healthcare provider.
If after visiting your healthcare provider the infection is not getting better
after a few days, contact them again. If other people you know or live with
get the same infection tell them to go to their healthcare provider.
Is it possible that my staph or MRSA
skin infection will come back after it is cured?
Yes. It is possible to have a staph or MRSA skin infection come back (recur)
after it is cured. To prevent this from happening, follow your healthcare provider’s
directions while you have the infection, and follow the prevention
steps after the infection is gone.
If I have a staph, or MRSA skin infection, what can I do to prevent others
from getting infected?
You can prevent spreading staph or MRSA skin infections to others by following
these steps:
1. Cover your wound. Keep wounds that are draining
or have pus covered with clean, dry bandages. Follow your healthcare
provider’s instructions on proper care of the wound. Pus
from infected wounds can contain staph and MRSA, so keeping the
infection covered will help prevent the spread to others. Bandages
or tape can be discarded with the regular trash.
2. Clean your hands. You, your family, and others
in close contact should wash their hands frequently with soap and
warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after
changing the bandage or touching the infected wound.
3. Do not share personal items. Avoid sharing
personal items such as towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, or
uniforms that may have had contact with the infected wound or bandage.
Wash sheets, towels, and clothes that become soiled with water
and laundry detergent. Drying clothes in a hot dryer, rather than
air-drying, also helps kill bacteria in clothes.
4. Talk to your doctor. Tell any healthcare providers
who treat you that you have or had a staph or MRSA skin infection.
What should I do if someone I know
has a staph or MRSA infection?
If you know someone that has a staph or MRSA infection you should follow the prevention
steps.
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