It's usually spread by skin-to-skin contact. At-risk populations include groups such as high school wrestlers, child care workers and people who live in crowded conditions. MRSA infections start out as small red bumps that can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses. Staph skin infections, including MRSA , generally start as swollen, painful red bumps that might look like pimples or spider bites.
The affected area might be:. These red bumps can quickly turn into deep, painful boils abscesses that require surgical draining. Sometimes the bacteria remain confined to the skin.
But they can also burrow deep into the body, causing potentially life-threatening infections in bones, joints, surgical wounds, the bloodstream, heart valves and lungs. Keep an eye on minor skin problems — pimples, insect bites, cuts and scrapes — especially in children.
If wounds appear infected or are accompanied by a fever, see your doctor. Different varieties of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, commonly called "staph," exist. Staph bacteria are normally found on the skin or in the nose of about one-third of the population.
The bacteria are generally harmless unless they enter the body through a cut or other wound, and even then they usually cause only minor skin problems in healthy people. MRSA is the result of decades of often unnecessary antibiotic use. For years, antibiotics have been prescribed for colds, flu and other viral infections that don't respond to these drugs. Even when antibiotics are used appropriately, they contribute to the rise of drug-resistant bacteria because they don't destroy every germ they target.
Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Top of the page. How is MRSA spread? What are the symptoms of MRSA? How is an infection diagnosed? How is an infection treated? Practice good hygiene. Keep your hands clean by washing them frequently and thoroughly with soap and clean, running water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Handwashing is the best way to avoid spreading germs.
Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage, and avoid contact with other people's wounds or bandages. Do not share personal items such as towels or razors. Be smart about using antibiotics. Know that antibiotics can help treat bacterial infections but they cannot cure viral infections.
Always ask your doctor if antibiotics are the best treatment. And avoid pressuring your doctor into prescribing antibiotics when they won't help you get better. Always take all your antibiotic medicine as prescribed by your doctor. Using only part of the medicine may cause antibiotic-resistant bacteria to develop. Do not save any antibiotics, and do not use antibiotics that were prescribed for someone else. If you are in the hospital, remind doctors and nurses to wash their hands before they touch you.
Cover your wound with clean, dry bandages. And follow your doctor's instructions on caring for your wound. Keep your hands clean. You, your family, and other people with whom you are in close contact should wash their hands often with soap and clean, running water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after changing a bandage or touching a wound. Do not share towels, face cloths, razors, clothing, or other items that may have had contact with your wound or a bandage.
Wash your sheets, towels, and clothes with warm water and detergent and dry them in a hot dryer, if possible. Keep your environment clean by wiping all frequently touched surfaces such as countertops, doorknobs, and light switches with a disinfectant.
Related Information Using Antibiotics Wisely. Staphylococcal infections. In LK Pickering et al. MRSA infections. While MRSA most often happens through skin-to-skin contact, MRSA bacteria are able to survive on various surfaces for long periods of time, meaning they can also be spread through contact with soiled linens, towels, or other objects.
There are steps hospital staff can take to prevent the spread of MRSA , including:. While these steps are often highly effective at preventing MRSA, the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria can happen.
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