MRSA Bacteria: Facts, Symptoms, and Prevention Tips
Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 2 Nov 2026
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics
Synopsis
Learn about MRSA, a methicillin-resistant staph bacterium, including its causes, symptoms, types, treatment, and prevention in hospitals and the community.
At a Glance
- 1 - MRSA was first reported in the United Kingdom in 1961.
- 2 - About one out of every three people carry staph on their skin or in their nose.
- 3 - Athletes, military personnel in barracks, and people who inject drugs are among the groups at higher risk of MRSA.
- 4 - A skin infection that comes with a fever or does not improve within 48 hours should be checked by a health care provider.
Topic Definition
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as MRSA, is a strain of the staph bacterium that has developed resistance to many common antibiotics, including penicillin-based drugs and cephalosporins, which makes the infections it causes harder to treat. First identified in the United Kingdom in 1961, it emerged through natural selection after methicillin came into use against staph infections, and it can range from minor skin problems such as boils to serious bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and surgical site infections. MRSA is generally divided into hospital-acquired cases, which affect patients with wounds, invasive devices, or weakened immune systems in health care settings, and community-acquired cases, which spread through close contact, shared items, or contaminated surfaces outside of hospitals. Many people carry the bacterium harmlessly on the skin or in the nose, but it can become dangerous if it enters the body, so early diagnosis, good hygiene, and careful antibiotic use are central to controlling it.
Overview
What is MRSA?
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to several antibiotics, which makes the infections it causes difficult to treat. It is resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics, a large group that includes methicillin, oxacillin, and other penicillins, as well as the cephalosporins. MRSA developed through natural selection after these antibiotics came into wide use and was first reported in the United Kingdom in 1961, soon after methicillin was introduced to treat staph infections. It is sometimes called a "superbug."
Staphylococcus aureus (staph) is a very common germ. About one out of every three people have it on their skin or in their nose, usually without any problems [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025]. People can also carry MRSA without symptoms for weeks or even years. If the bacteria get into the body through a cut, wound, catheter, or other opening, they can cause an infection.
- In the community, most MRSA infections are skin infections, such as boils and abscesses.
- In health care settings, MRSA can cause life-threatening bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and surgical site infections.
MRSA is especially troublesome in hospitals, where patients with open wounds, invasive devices, and weakened immune systems are at greater risk of infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 323,700 hospitalized patients in the United States had MRSA infections in 2017, and about 10,600 of them died [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019]. Some antibiotics still work against MRSA, so it can usually be treated once it is diagnosed.
Two Main Types of MRSA Infections
- Healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA)
- Community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA)
Healthcare-associated MRSA is picked up in a hospital, nursing home, dialysis center, or other health care facility, often by a patient who is being treated for something else. Community-associated MRSA is picked up outside health care settings, through contact with a person who carries MRSA or with contaminated objects or surfaces.
Healthcare-Associated MRSA
Hospitals and other health care facilities have long been a main source of MRSA infections. Patients often have weakened immune systems, and surgery, catheters, and other invasive procedures break the skin and give bacteria a way into the body. Staff can carry the bacteria on their hands from patient to patient, and frequent use of broad-spectrum antibiotics gives resistant bacteria an advantage. Long-term care facilities and nursing homes face the same risks. Many hospitals screen high-risk patients for MRSA on admission and isolate those who carry it, and several states have passed laws requiring screening.
Community-Associated MRSA
MRSA also spreads in the community wherever people are in close contact. Outbreaks have occurred in schools and colleges, particularly in sports teams, as well as in daycare centers, military barracks, and prisons. People can carry MRSA without knowing it, and some people only find out when a wound does not heal as it should.
Who is at Risk?
Anyone can get MRSA, but the risk is higher for:
- Athletes
- Daycare and school students
- Military personnel in barracks
- People who receive inpatient medical care or live in nursing homes
- People who have surgery or medical devices inserted in their body
- People who inject drugs
Close skin-to-skin contact, sharing personal items, contact with contaminated surfaces, poor hygiene, and crowded living conditions all make it easier for MRSA to spread [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025].
Signs and Symptoms of MRSA
The symptoms depend on where the infection is. Broken skin, such as a scrape or cut, is a common site. Most staph skin infections, including MRSA, appear as a bump or infected area on the skin that might be red, swollen, painful, warm to the touch, full of pus or other drainage, and accompanied by a fever. You cannot tell by looking at the skin whether it is MRSA, and these infections are sometimes mistaken for spider bites. More serious infections of the lungs or blood can cause fever and chills, cough or shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, headache, and a general ill feeling.
Contact a health care provider if you have signs of a skin infection, especially if you have a fever or the area does not improve within 48 hours. Do not pick at or pop the bump or sore, and cover it with clean, dry bandages until you are seen.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Only a laboratory test of a sample from the infection can show whether MRSA is the cause. Health care providers often prescribe antibiotics that still work against MRSA, and some infections need to be drained by a provider. It is important to take antibiotics exactly as prescribed and finish the full course. Left untreated, MRSA infections can lead to sepsis and death [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025].
Preventing MRSA Infection
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when hands are not visibly dirty.
- Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until they heal.
- Avoid contact with other people's wounds or bandages, and wear gloves if you need to touch them.
- Do not share personal items such as towels, razors, or clothing.
- Shower after sports practice and clean shared athletic equipment.
- Wash soiled sheets, towels, and clothes in hot water, and dry them in a hot dryer.
- If you are a patient in a hospital, ask your caregivers to clean their hands before touching you.
MRSA Linked to Livestock
Some MRSA strains are found in farm animals. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh reported that the livestock-associated strain CC398 has passed from animals to people on many occasions and has been found in patients in UK hospitals. Its resistance to some common antibiotics is likely linked to the widespread use of antibiotics on farms, which is why the researchers called for strict biosecurity in food production, continued surveillance of MRSA in hospitals, and responsible use of antibiotics in health care and agriculture.
If you think you may have MRSA, see a health care provider as soon as possible, and follow their advice to avoid spreading it to the people around you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is MRSA treated?
MRSA is treated with specific antibiotics that still work against it, and doctors may drain skin abscesses, so it is important to complete the full course and follow medical guidance.
Is MRSA contagious?
Yes, MRSA can spread through skin-to-skin contact, shared personal items, and contaminated surfaces, which is why good hygiene and covering wounds are important.
How can I prevent spreading MRSA at home?
Wash hands often, keep cuts clean and covered, avoid sharing towels or razors, and wash soiled laundry in hot water to reduce the risk of spreading MRSA.
Can MRSA go away on its own?
Minor MRSA skin infections sometimes clear with proper wound care, but many cases need antibiotics, and untreated infections can become serious, so medical advice is important.
Who is most at risk of a MRSA infection?
People in hospitals or long-term care, those with weakened immune systems, open wounds, or invasive devices, and people in crowded settings such as athletes and prisons are at higher risk.
What is the difference between staph and MRSA?
Staph refers to Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in general, while MRSA is a strain of staph that has become resistant to many standard antibiotics, making it harder to treat.
When should I see a doctor about a possible MRSA infection?
See a doctor if you have a wound that will not heal, a painful red or swollen skin bump, or symptoms such as fever, so it can be diagnosed and treated early.
Can MRSA spread in gyms and sports teams?
Yes, MRSA spreads through skin contact and shared items such as towels, razors, and equipment, so athletes are at higher risk. Showering after practice, covering cuts, and not sharing personal items help prevent it.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Antibiotic resistance threats in the United States, 2019. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) basics.
Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team. Last updated: