MRSA

MRSA

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus or MRSA a type of bacteria that is resistant to many antibiotics.

Symptoms of MRSA infection may include:

  • Red, swollen, warm, and painful pimple, boil, or blistered areas
  • Pus or other drainage
  • Fever and chills
  • A wound that looks like a spider bite
A foot with a large, swollen pink bump and pus from a MRSA infection

Transmission

MRSA is spread by close contact with an infected person, either by direct skin contact or indirect contact with shared objects or surfaces, such as shared towels, razors, soap, wound bandages, bedding, clothes, hot tub or sauna benches, and athletic equipment. Wound drainage or pus is very infectious.

Prevention

You can prevent spreading staph or MRSA skin infections to others by following these steps:

  • Cover your wound and 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 be infectious, so keeping the infection covered will help prevent the spread to others. Bandages or tape can be discarded with the regular trash, taking proper care to cover or contain them when disposing.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Talk to your doctor. Tell any healthcare providers who treat you that you have or had a staph or MRSA skin infection.

Treatment

See your healthcare provider if you think you have MRSA. Your healthcare provider may collect a sample from the infected area and send it to a laboratory for testing. Your healthcare provider can then prescribe an antibiotic that is right for you.

Seeing your healthcare provider right away when symptoms develop will help prevent the infection from becoming worse. If your health care provider prescribes an antibiotic, take it exactly as directed, finish all doses, and do not share it with anyone else.

Additional resources