What is Staphylococcus aureus (staph)?
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:
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:
Recommendations for the Prevention of
Staphylococcal Infections for Schools:
www.idph.state.il.us/health/infect/schoolstaphrecs.htm
Sources: www.cdc.gov
www.idph.state.il.us/public/hb/hbmrsa.htm
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:
- Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-
based hand sanitizer.
- Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
- Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
- 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:
- 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. - 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.
Recommendations for the Prevention of
Staphylococcal Infections for Schools:
www.idph.state.il.us/health/infect/schoolstaphrecs.htm
Sources: www.cdc.gov
www.idph.state.il.us/public/hb/hbmrsa.htm
| Staph Infection |
The Marion County Health Department has received inquiries about infections with antibiotic-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-resistant S. aureus [MRSA]) among persons who have no
apparent contact with the healthcare system. This fact sheet, provided by the CDC, addresses some of the
most frequently asked questions.
Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-resistant S. aureus [MRSA]) among persons who have no
apparent contact with the healthcare system. This fact sheet, provided by the CDC, addresses some of the
most frequently asked questions.
