MRSA Information and FAQs

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

What is Staphylococcus aureus, and what is MRSA?

Staph is a type of bacteria. It may cause skin infections that look like pimples or boils. Skin infections caused by Staph may be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage. Some Staph (MRSA) are resistant to certain antibiotics, making it harder to treat. The information on this page applies to both Staph and MRSA.

How do I know if I have MRSA?

To detect the presence of MRSA on your body, a culture must be collected. All patients being admitted to any of the Scott & White hospitals will be tested for the presence of MRSA.

Since many people carry MRSA in their nasal passages, a Scott & White technician would use a special swab to collect a sample from inside your nose. This swab would then be inserted into each nostril, and then sent to the lab for testing. If MRSA is in the sample, it means you are carrying MRSA on your body.

What is infection vs. colonization?

An infection means that germs are in or on the body and make you sick, which results in signs and symptoms such as fever, pus from a wound, a high white blood cell count, or pneumonia.

Germs can also be in or on the body, but not make you sick. This is called colonization. People who are colonized will have no signs or symptoms. They feel fine. MRSA can cause infection or colonization.

How do I keep MRSA infections from spreading?

• Wash your hands often, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Keep your cuts and scrapes clean and cover them with bandages
• Do not touch other people's cuts or bandages
• Do not share personal items like towels or razors

How are Staph and MRSA infections treated?

Treatment for a Staph skin infection may include taking an antibiotic or having a doctor drain the infection. If you are given an antibiotic, be sure to take all of the doses, even if the infection is getting better, unless your doctor tells you to stop taking it. Do not share antibiotics with other people or save them to use later.

If I am colonized with MRSA will I ever get rid of it?

Over time your normal skin organisms may take the place of MRSA.

Community Acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA)

Staph and MRSA can also cause illness in persons outside of hospitals and health care facilities. MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized nor had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as CA-MRSA infections.

Staph or MRSA infections in the community usually start as skin infections, such as pimples, spider bites or boils, and occur in otherwise healthy people. These can turn into deep, painful abscesses that require surgical draining or cause potentially life-threatening infections.

You can prevent MRSA infections by washing your hands often, keeping cuts covered until healed, avoiding contact with other people's wounds or bandages, and not sharing personal items. See your doctor right away if you think you have a MRSA infection.

Online Resources:

• Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS): MRSA Information
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC): Healthcare-Associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA)

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