Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
MRSA is a type of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, which is resistant to the antibiotic, methicillin. Sometimes MRSA is resistant to other antibiotics
besides methicillin. Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that is commonly found on healthy people either on their skin or in the nose. Sometimes
Staphylococcus aureus can cause minor skin infections such as pimples and boils which do not require the use of antibiotics in healthy people.
Other times it may cause serious infections (e.g., surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia ) for those with weakened
immune system that require the use of antibiotics.
CDC indicates that 25% – 30% of the population is colonized (bacteria are present, but not causing an infection) with Staphylococcus aureus ,
while approximately 1% is colonized with MRSA.
