MRSA risk factors: who is more likely

What MRSA is

Staphylococcus aureus (staph) is a very common germ. CDC says about one out of every three people have it on their skin or in their nose, and it does not cause problems for most people. MRSA is a type of staph that can be resistant to several antibiotics. Anyone can get a MRSA infection or carry MRSA, and some people who carry it go on to get an infection (CDC).

MedlinePlus describes two types of infection. Hospital-associated MRSA happens to people in health care settings. Community-associated MRSA happens to people who have close skin-to-skin contact with others, such as athletes involved in football and wrestling (MedlinePlus).

Who is more likely to get MRSA

CDC says the risk increases for people with hospitalizations or nursing home stays, skin-to-skin contact with others (such as in contact sports), and exposure to crowded and unhygienic places. Although anyone can get MRSA, CDC lists these groups as having a higher risk (CDC):

• Athletes
• Daycare and school students
• Military personnel in barracks
• People who receive inpatient medical care
• People who have surgery or medical devices inserted in their body
• People who inject drugs

CDC gives no score for MRSA risk (CDC).

How it spreads

MRSA spreads in the community through contact with infected people, wounds, or things that have touched infected skin and are carrying the bacteria (CDC). CDC says it can survive on some surfaces, like towels, razors and furniture, for hours, days or even weeks, and can cause an infection if it gets into a cut, scrape or open wound. A surface can look clean and still have germs (CDC).

Signs of a MRSA skin infection

The symptoms depend on the part of the body that is infected. Broken skin, such as scrapes or cuts, is often the site of a MRSA infection. Most staph skin infections, including MRSA, appear as a bump or infected area on the skin that might be (CDC):

• Red
• Swollen
• Painful
• Warm to the touch
• Full of pus or other drainage
• Accompanied by a fever

You cannot tell by looking at the skin if it is a MRSA infection, and some MRSA skin infections are mistaken for a spider bite. A healthcare provider must send a sample to a laboratory to find out whether MRSA is the cause. CDC also says not to pick at or pop the bump or sore, and to cover it with clean, dry bandages until you can see a healthcare provider (CDC).

Complications

CDC says MRSA infections can cause pneumonia (lung infections), bloodstream infections, surgical site infections, and, if left untreated, sepsis or death (CDC). There are antibiotics available to treat MRSA infections, and some staph infections need surgery to drain infected areas (CDC).

Lowering the risk

CDC and MedlinePlus suggest these steps (CDC) (MedlinePlus):

• Clean your hands often and clean your body regularly, especially after exercise.
• Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
• Avoid contact with other people's wounds or bandages.
• Do not share personal items such as towels, washcloths, razors or clothes.
• Use a barrier, like a towel or clothing, between your skin and shared surfaces.
• Wash soiled sheets, towels and clothes in hot water with bleach and dry them in a hot dryer.

For patients, CDC says to know how to care for any wound, catheter or dialysis port, to ask each day whether a temporary medical device can be removed, and to call your healthcare provider right away if the area around a device looks infected (red, swollen, warm, draining), especially with a fever. Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed. CDC says the chances of getting MRSA while visiting a patient with MRSA are very low; clean your hands when you enter and leave the room (CDC).

Related pages

Skin infections can also be caused by other bacteria; see cellulitis risk factors. For a lung infection, see pneumonia risk factors. Sepsis, the body's extreme response to an infection, is covered in sepsis risk factors.

Common questions

Who is most at risk for MRSA?

Anyone can get MRSA. CDC names athletes, daycare and school students, military personnel in barracks, people in inpatient medical care, people who have surgery or medical devices in their body, and people who inject drugs as groups with a higher risk (CDC).

Is MRSA a spider bite?

No, but the two can look alike. CDC says that unless you actually saw the spider, the irritation is likely not a spider bite (CDC).

Can you carry MRSA without being sick?

Yes. CDC says people can carry MRSA, and some who carry it go on to get an infection (CDC).