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Staphylococcus
aureus, is a type of bacteria commonly carried on
the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Sometimes,
staph can cause an infection. Staph bacteria are one of
the most common causes of skin infections. However,
staph bacteria also can cause serious infections (such
as surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections,
and pneumonia).
“MRSA” stands for
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and
refers to types of staph that are resistant to a type of
antibiotic methicillin. MRSA is often resistant to other
antibiotics, as well.
Staph infections,
including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in
hospitals and healthcare facilities. These
healthcare-associated staph infections include surgical
wound infections, urinary tract infections, bloodstream
infections, and pneumonia.
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
hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as
dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as
community-associated MRSA infections. Staph or MRSA
infections in the community are usually manifested as
skin infections that look like pimples or boils and
occur in otherwise healthy people. |
