MRSA: What you need to know

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that is resistant to treatment with certain antibiotics.  These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics.  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. 

MRSA infections that occur in otherwise healthy people who have not been hospitalized or had a medical procedure in the last year are known as community-associated (CA)-MRSA infections.  These infections are usually skin infections such as abscesses, boils and other pus-filled lesions. 

Factors that have been associated with the spread of (CA)-MRSA skin infections include: close skin-to-skin contact, openings in the skin such as cuts or abrasions, contaminated items and surfaces, crowded living conditions and poor hygiene. 

There are things you can do to reduce the risk of infection. The links below include information from Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that may be helpful in reducing your risk.

Information from ODH

• MRSA Guidelines for Schools
   
• MRSA Diagnosis and Treatment for the Public
   
• MRSA Information for Athletes and Coaches
   
• Listen to a Public Service Announcement about MRSA

Information from The Ohio State University Veterinary Public Health Program

• MRSA Information for Veterinarians
   
• MRSA Information for Pet and Animal Owners

Information from the CDC

• MRSA Information for the Public
   
• Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among Athletes
   
• MRSA Information for Health Care Providers
   
• Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work
   
• Antibiotic / Antimicrobial Resistance information from CDC
   
• MRSA in the Community
   
• MRSA in Schools
   
• Educational Material about MRSA

Other Resources

• A Parent's Guide to MRSA (available in 16 languages)