Staph/MRSA Skin Infections: Questions and Answers
Overview:
Drug sensitive Staph bacteria are
commonly found on the skin of healthy persons. In recent years, people have
been getting skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus
(“Staph”) bacteria that are resistant to many antibiotics (Drugs that kill
bacteria), also called Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus –
“MRSA.” Staph, including MRSA, can be a part of the bacteria that
normally resides in or on humans and do not usually
cause
infection. When bacteria are living on or in the human body, but are
not causing infection, it is called “colonization.” Humans are most
often colonized with staph in the nose; it is also found on the skin and
other body sites.
What is a Staph/MRSA skin
infection?
It can be a pimple, rash, boil or
open wound. Staph/MRSA is often misdiagnosed as spider bites, Symptoms of
Staph/MRSA infection include redness, warmth, swelling, pus, tenderness of
the skin, pimples, boils, or blisters. Staph/MRSA infected skin lesions may
progress quickly from a skin or surface irritation to an abscess or serious
skin infections. If left untreated, Staph/MRSA can infect blood and bones.
How do Staph/MRSA skin infections
spread?
Staph/MRSA lives on skin and survives
on objects for 24 hours or more. The cleanest person can get a Staph/MRSA
infection. Staph/MRSA can rub off the skin of an infected person onto the
skin of another person during skin-to-skin contact. Or, the Staph/MRSA can
come off the infected skin of a person onto a shared object or surface, and
get into the skin or the next person who uses it. Examples of commonly
shared objects include towels, soap, benches in hot tubs, and athletic
equipment – in other words, anything that could have touched the skin of a
Staph/MRSA infected person can carry the bacteria to the skin of another
person. MRSA skin infections are not spread by coughing or sneezing.
How
do I protect myself from getting MRSA?