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Some documents on this page are saved in the Portable Document Format = (PDF).=20 If it's not already on your computer, you'll need to download = the latest=20 free version of Acrobat Reader.

You are Here: Home=20 Page > Communicabl= e=20 Disease > Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus = Aureus=20 (MRSA)

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus = (MRSA)

Last Reviewed: November 2006

"Methicillin-Resistant= =20 Staphylococcus aureus" is = also available=20 in Portable Document Format (PDF, 16KB, 2pg.)=20
Versi=C3=B3n=20 en espa=C3=B1ol=20
Commu= nity-Associated=20 Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus = aureus=20 (CA-MRSA)=20
A= ntibiotic=20 Resistance

What is MRSA?

MRSA refers to a type of bacteria (Staphylococcus=20 aureus) that is resistant to many antibiotics. It is a common = cause of=20 hospital-acquired infections.

Who gets MRSA?

Anyone can get MRSA, but it is found most often in hospitalized = patients.

What are the symptoms associated with MRSA infection?

MRSA infections can cause a broad range of symptoms depending on the = part of=20 the body that is infected. These may include surgical wounds, burns, = catheter=20 sites, eye, skin and blood. Infection often results in redness, swelling = and=20 tenderness at the site of infection. Sometimes, people may carry MRSA = without=20 having any symptoms.

How is it transmitted?

The staph bacteria is generally spread through direct contact with = the hands=20 of a health care worker or patient who is infected or carrying the = organism.

How long can an infected person carry MRSA?

Some people can carry MRSA for days to many months, even after their=20 infection has been treated.

How are MRSA infections diagnosed?

MRSA infections can be diagnosed when a doctor obtains a sample or = specimen=20 from the site of infection and submits it to a laboratory. The = laboratory places=20 the specimen on a special "culture" plate containing nutrients, = incubates the=20 plate in a warmer and then identifies the bacteria. The final step is = for the=20 laboratory to conduct tests using various antibiotics to determine if = the=20 bacteria are resistant (able to withstand or tolerate) or sensitive = (susceptible=20 to killing) to select antibiotics.

What is the treatment for MRSA?

Although MRSA cannot be effectively treated with antibiotics such as=20 methicillin, nafcillin, cephalosporin or penicillin, it can usually be = treated=20 with an antibiotic called vancomycin. Recently, however, a few strains = of Staphylococcus aureus have even = developed some=20 degree of resistance to vancomycin. The vancomycin-resistant strains may = be more=20 difficult to treat. Newer antibiotics are being developed to address = this=20 problem.

How can the spread of MRSA be controlled?

Careful hand washing is the single most effective way to control = spread of=20 MRSA. Health care workers should wash their hands after contact with = each=20 patient. If the patient is known to have an MRSA infection, the health = care=20 worker should wear disposable gloves. Depending on the type of contact, = a gown=20 should also be worn. Patients must also wash their hands to avoid = spreading the=20 bacteria to others.

What about contact with carriers?

If basic hygiene precautions are followed, MRSA carriers are not a = hazard to=20 others including their family and friends.

New=20 York State

Department of Health