Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (MRSA)

MRSA causes a staph infection (pronounced "staff infection") that is resistant to several common antibiotics. There are two types of infection. Hospital-associated MRSA happens to people in healthcare settings. Community-associated MRSA hapto people who have close skin-to-skin contact with others, such as athletes involved in football and wrestling.

A type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics called beta-lactams. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin, and amoxicillin. In the community, most MRSA infections are skin infections. More severe or potentially life-threatening MRSA infections occur most frequently among patients in healthcare settings. While 25% to 30% of people are colonized* in the nose with staph, less than 2% are colonized with MRSA (Gorwitz RJ et al. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2008:197:1226-34.).

Staphylococcus aureus that has become resistant to a group of drugs that are commonly given for staphylococcus infections. Not all Staphylococcus aureus is resistant to these drugs. The sensitivity strains are called MSSA.

A type of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus that has become resistant to a group of powerful drugs. Not all Staphylococcus aureus is resistant to these drugs, and sensitive strains are called MSSA.