Presence On Skin
MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staph aureus. Staph aureus is a kind of bacteria that is commonly found on the skin of humans. According to the Mayo Clinic, approximately 30 percent of all people have Staph aureus on their skin but are not "infected." People who have Staph aureus on their skin but are not infected are considered to be colonized. MRSA develops from regular Staph aureus colonies that gradually become resistant to antibiotics (such as methicillin) due to previous exposure to antibiotics. According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the people who have been colonized by Staph aureus will have MRSA on their skin but will not be infected due to a healthy immune system. These people will, however, be able to transmit the disease to others.
MRSA Transmission in Healthcare Settings
MRSA infections and outbreaks are a serious concern in hospitals and other healthcare settings. MRSA is able to get into hospitals in two different ways. Sometimes patients who have been colonized with MRSA are admitted to the hospital for other reasons. In addition, MRSA can develop for normal Staph aureus colonies within hospitals because of the widespread use of antibiotics within medical settings. According to the Center for Disease Control, MRSA commonly spreads through a hospital via healthcare workers' hands. This means that if a doctor or nurse touches a patient who has MRSA colonies and then touches another patient, the MRSA can spread. This is particularly an issue for patients with weakened immune systems or those who have devices (such as catheters or IVs) in their skin because MRSA can cause serious infections that are then difficult to treat (because of the bacteria's resistance to antibiotics).
MRSA In The Community
Although for many years MRSA was mostly limited to hospitals, the Mayo Clinic notes that in the 1990s it began to appear in the community. MRSA can be spread throughout the community by people sharing towels, clothing or other items that touch the skin. MRSA can also be spread through skin-on-skin contact. As a result, athletes who play contact sports have an increased risk of contracting MRSA, particularly because these sports often cause cuts and abrasions that allow the bacteria to get past the skin. In addition, the Center for Disease Control has identified certain strains of MRSA that are carried by men who have sex with other men.
