Where is mrsa a problem

As more antibiotic-resistant bacteria develop, hospitals are taking extra care to practice infection control, which includes frequent handwashing and isolation of patients who are infected with MRSA. You can also take steps to protect yourself from MRSA. If you have an infection with MRSA, you can keep from spreading the bacteria.

If you need to go to the hospital for some reason, and you have staph bacteria living on your skin and in your nose, you may be treated to try to prevent getting or spreading a MRSA infection. You may be given an ointment to put on your skin or inside your nose. And you need to wash your skin daily with a special soap that can get rid of the bacteria.

Current as of: September 23, Russo MD - Internal Medicine. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: E. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.

Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Top of the page. How is MRSA spread? What are the symptoms of MRSA? How is an infection diagnosed? How is an infection treated? Practice good hygiene. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.

Overview Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA infection is caused by a type of staph bacteria that's become resistant to many of the antibiotics used to treat ordinary staph infections. Staph infection Open pop-up dialog box Close. Staph infection MRSA infections start out as small red bumps that can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed Nov. Mayo Clinic; Elsevier Point of Care. Elsevier; For example, people with MRSA skin infections often can get swelling, warmth, redness, and pain in infected skin. In most cases it is hard to tell if an infection is due to MRSA or another type of bacteria without laboratory tests that your doctor can order.

Some MRSA skin infections can have a fairly typical appearance and can be confused with a spider bite. However, unless you actually see the spider, the irritation is likely not a spider bite. Most S. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.

Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. General Information. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. What is MRSA? In Healthcare Settings In places such as a hospital or nursing home, MRSA can cause severe problems such as bloodstream infections , pneumonia , or surgical site infections. People with open wounds, burns, feeding tubes, catheters, and IVs all have open areas on their body where MRSA could easily enter.

While MRSA most often happens through skin-to-skin contact, MRSA bacteria are able to survive on various surfaces for long periods of time, meaning they can also be spread through contact with soiled linens, towels, or other objects. There are steps hospital staff can take to prevent the spread of MRSA , including:. While these steps are often highly effective at preventing MRSA, the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria can happen.