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...

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. See similar questions...

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. 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...

Because MRSA is almost always spread through direct skin-to-skin contact, you can prevent the spread of MRSA by practicing good personal hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and warm water. When soap and warm water are not available, use alcohol-based hand gel (at least 60% alcohol). Do not share personal items like towels, razors, water bottles, washcloths, clothing or uniforms. (DO NOT use gym clothes that have been collected in a lost and found box.) Practice and encourage good skin care. 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...

MRSA infection usually develops in hospital patients who are elderly or very sick, or who have an open wound (such as a bedsore) or a tube (such as a urinary catheter) going into their body. Healthy people rarely get MRSA. 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...

MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureusis) is a form of bacteria carried on human skin. Once seen only in hospitals and healthcare facilities, staph infections have been present in the general population for more than 15 years. See similar questions...

Anyone can get infected with West Nile Virus; however more severe infections occur in the elderly and those with a weakened immune system. West Nile Virus is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes get infected with West Nile Virus by feeding on infected birds. There is no evidence that a person can acquire the disease by handling live or dead birds or other infected animals. The virus cannot be spread from person to person. See similar questions...