What it is
MRSA — methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus — causes a staph infection (said "staff infection") that resists several common antibiotics.
Two kinds
| Type | Who gets it |
|---|---|
| Hospital-associated | people in health care settings |
| Community-associated | people in close skin-to-skin contact with others — such as athletes in football and wrestling |
Prevention
In hospitals, infection control is key. To prevent community-associated MRSA:
- practice good hygiene;
- keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until they heal;
- avoid contact with other people's wounds or bandages;
- don't share towels, washcloths, razors or clothes;
- wash soiled sheets, towels and clothes in hot water with bleach, and dry them in a hot dryer.
Treatment
If a wound looks infected, see a health care provider. Treatment may include draining the infection and antibiotics.
Sources
Based on "MRSA," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
1
0
0
0
Comments
Read next
Version: 2CC0 1.0 — public domain
Blood clots need platelets and clotting factors. A bleeding disorder means too few of them, or ones that don't work — inherited, like hemophilia, or caused by liver disease, low vitamin K or medicines such as blood thinners.
Version: 2CC0 1.0 — public domain
A traumatic brain injury can follow a blow to the head or an object piercing the skull. Who is most at risk, the signs of mild and severe TBI, how it is diagnosed and treated, and how to prevent it.
Version: 1CC0 1.0 — public domain
Scammers pretend to be from government agencies like the FTC, Social Security Administration, and IRS — or say they're calling about your Medicare benefits. Learn the signs and avoid the scam.
Version: 2CC0 1.0 — public domain
Psoriasis is an immune-driven skin disease that makes skin cells pile up in days instead of a month, causing thick, red, scaly patches. Where they appear, what makes them worse, and how it is treated.
Version: 1CC0 1.0 — public domain
- Be ready to answer questions — children’s questions can tell you a lot about what they already know
- Listen carefully to your kids' opinions, even if you don’t agree
- Try using things that come up on TV, in music, or on social media to start a conversation
- Be honest about how you're feeling —
Version: 2CC0 1.0 — public domain
The adrenal glands, on top of each kidney, make hormones you can't live without. Most tumors there are benign; cancers are uncommon. The main types, and how they are treated.