Staph bacteria (including MRSA) are most often spread by close contact with infected people or the things they touch. It is not spread through the air.

Anybody can get MRSA, but MRSA infections are by far more common among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities. Less often, MRSA can be acquired in the community. It has been associated with recent antibiotic use, sharing contaminated items, having recurrent skin diseases, and living in crowded settings. Outbreaks of MRSA have been reported among participants in contact sports such as wrestling and rugby. See similar questions...

The main way that MRSA is spread is through direct skin-to-skin contact. Contact with contaminated surfaces, such as athletic equipment, mats, and shared personal items (e.g., towels) may contribute a small amount to the spread of MRSA. In very rare situations (e.g., pneumonia caused by MRSA), MRSA could be spread as airborne droplets into the environment. The risk of infection to others would be very low for infection, but the droplets could contaminate surfaces. See similar questions...

Yes. MRSA can spread among other patients, who are often very sick with weak immune systems that may not be able to fight off infections. MRSA is almost always spread by physical contact, and not through the air. Hospitals usually take special steps to prevent the spread of MRSA from patient to patient. One of these steps may be to separate, or isolate, a patient with MRSA from other patients. See similar questions...

Staphylococcus aureus ("staph") is a common type of bacteria (germ) that is often found on the skin and in the nose of healthy people. It can also grow in wounds or other sites in the body, sometimes causing an infection. For example, staph is one of the most common causes of skin infections. Penicillin is a drug that was once commonly used to treat staph infections. See similar questions...

MRSA is usually transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with shared items or surfaces that have come into contact with someone else's infection (e.g., towels, used bandages). See similar questions...

MRSA can be carried on the skin or in the nose without causing any disease, which is called colonization . Approximately 25-30% of the population is colonized in the nose with staph bacteria at any given time; however, the proportion colonized with MRSA is not known. The exact number of new cases of MRSA infections in Oregon is unknown but the number of cases of MRSA in general is increasing. See similar questions...

Symptoms of MRSA infection are, for the most part, not different from any other staph infection. MRSA may manifest as red, swollen, tender skin surrounding a cut or in the form of a large pimple (boil) and may include drainage of thick white pus. In more serious cases, the infection may cause difficulty breathing, fever and excessive tiredness. If a child develops these symptoms, a parent should contact a doctor. See similar questions...

Colonization of the skin or nose usually is not a reason for antibiotic treatment except in special circumstances. Small, localized skin pimples or boils may improve without use of antibiotics. When antibiotics are required, there are usually only a few from which to choose. MRSA bacteria are resistant to penicillin and all penicillin-like drugs. Most hospital-acquired MRSA are also resistant to numerous other antibiotics. See similar questions...

The Oregon DHS Public Health Division offers this Website: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/acd/diseases/mrsa/mrsa.shtml and The Massachusetts Department of Public Health offers this Website: http://www.mass.gov/dph/cdc/antibiotic/mrsa_helpful_reminders.pdf See similar questions...

Many of you have heard reports in the media of widespread infection with the strain of MRSA known as USA300. Commonly called a staph infection, MRSA is a type of staph that is resistant to some antibiotics. Because of concerns raised in the community, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation would like to share with you some simple information about MRSA. See similar questions...

Yes. An inmate with an open, infected sore could spread MRSA infection to a visitor by direct physical contact. This risk can be reduced by carefully cleaning and covering all open wounds and by careful hand-washing. Sometimes prison officials may temporarily restrict physical contact between an inmate with an active MRSA infection and visitors in order to prevent the spread of MRSA infection. See similar questions...

Cover your wound. Keep wounds that are draining or have pus covered with clean, dry bandages until healed. Clean your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after changing the bandage or touching the infected wound. Do not share personal items. See similar questions...