Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus aureus
What is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus aureus?
Staphylococcus aureus (often referred to as “staph”) is a type of bacteria commonly found on the skin or in the nose of healthy people (referred to as colonization). Staph is a common cause of skin infections, but it can also cause serious infections, such as surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia, most frequently among patients in health care settings. Some staph bacteria are resistant to some types of antibiotics that are often used to treat staph infections. These antibiotic-resistant bacteria are called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. Historically, MRSA infections occurred in hospitalized patients, but now these infections are also common in the community. People who have MRSA infections acquired in the community typically have infections of the skin.
Signs and symptoms
- Carriers have no signs or symptoms.
- Signs and symptoms will vary by the type of infection.
- In child care and school settings, most staph and MRSA infections are skin infections that may appear as swelling, pus, and pain.
- Often, MRSA skin and soft tissue infections may look like spider or insect bites. Pictures of MRSA skin and soft tissue infections can be found on CDC’s website.
Incubation period
Variable; depends on the type and severity of infection
Contagious period and spread
MRSA and other staph bacteria are usually spread from person-to-person by direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with surfaces or items (such as towels or bandages) that have come into contact with someone else’s infection. Uncovered cuts and abrasions make spread easier and also may allow MRSA to enter and cause infection. Infections and outbreaks occur among athletes in sports with a lot of physical contact, such as wrestling or football.
Public health reporting requirements
- Report the infection to the facility director, school nurse, or child care health consultant.
- Individual cases of MRSA skin or soft tissue infections are not reportable to public health.
- Suspected outbreaks of all types (including staph and MRSA) are reportable to state or local public health.
Control of spread
- Spread can be prevented by simple measures such as hand hygiene and covering wounds.
- Clean hands often.
- Cover wounds with clean, dry bandages until healed.
- Do not share personal items such as towels, washcloths, razors, and clothing.
- Use standard precautions (e.g., hand hygiene before and after contact, wearing gloves) when caring for broken skin (open wounds) or potential infections.
- Use barriers such as gowns, masks, and eye protection if splashing or other contact with potentially infected body fluids is anticipated.
- In general, it is not necessary to close entire facilities to “disinfect” them when MRSA infections occur. Routine cleaning practices are enough in most situations.
Treatment
Treatment for staph and MRSA will vary by the type and location of infection. People infected with staph or MRSA should seek care from a health care professional. Treatment may include antibiotics and/or incision and drainage of pus from wounds.
Exclusion
Exclusion is only required if:
- The health care provider instructs exclusion.
- There is wound drainage that cannot be covered and contained with a clean, dry bandage.
- They cannot maintain good personal hygiene.
- Athletes:
- If sport-specific rules do not exist, in general, athletes should be excluded if wounds cannot be properly covered during participation. (The term “properly covered” means that the skin infection is covered by a securely attached bandage or dressing that will contain all drainage and will remain intact throughout the activity.) If wounds can be properly covered, good hygiene measures should be stressed to the athlete, such as performing hand hygiene before and after changing bandages, and throwing used bandages in the trash.
- Athletes with active infections or open wounds should not use whirlpools, therapy pools, and other water facilities like swimming pools until infections and wounds are healed.
- Additional information can be found on CDC’s Preventing Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Infections in Athletes webpage.
Role of teachers, caregivers, and family
- Use and encourage good hand-hygiene techniques.
- Use standard precautions when cleaning or touching open sores or lesions.
- Cover red or draining skin lesions.
- Athletes should cover non-infected wounds such as cuts, abrasions, blisters, and lacerations, shower immediately after sports participation, and wash and dry uniforms after each use.
- Do not share personal items such as towels or razors.
- Wash and dry clothes and bed linens in the warmest temperatures recommended on the labels.