Marquette University
Medical Clinic
545 N. 15th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Phone 414-288-7184
MRSA
What is MRSA?
It is a bacteria that is commonly found on the skin and in the nose, usually not causing any
symptoms. However, sometimes it causes infections in skin and other sites in the body.
“MRSA” is the abbreviation for “methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus”, a bacteria that
has more resistance to common antibiotics than regular staph aureus. Decades ago,
antibiotic resistant staph aureus began to emerge in hospitals and other health care settings.
In the past 15 years, it has become common in the community in otherwise healthy people. It
now causes 59% of skin infections seen in U.S. emergency rooms. MRSA causes the same
types of infections that regular staph does but it can’t be treated by penicillin related or
erythromycin related antibiotics. MRSA is not easier to spread than other staph infections.
What are the symptoms of infection?
Many people carry staph bacteria on their skin without any symptoms. But if infection
occurs, infections of the skin are the most common. It is commonly mistaken for a “spider
bite” since it often looks like a pimple with surrounding redness and swelling. Fever and
severe pain can be a sign of a deeper infection. Infections can occur anywhere but are often
located at sites of previous cuts/scrapes, e.g. shaving areas, and the back of the neck, groin,
buttocks, armpits, and the inner thigh.
A person can carry MRSA, without symptoms, for a long time before getting ill. This can make
it extremely difficult to determine where a person may have acquired the bacteria. The place of
onset of the symptoms of infection may have nothing to do with the place where the bacteria
was acquired.
Who is at risk of a MRSA infection?
MRSA more often occurs in hospitalized patients and other health care facilities. It can also
occur in people who have received multiple antibiotics, those who have close contact with
people with MRSA infections, athletic teams who share equipment, tattoo recipients, and
groups who are in crowded conditions such as in daycare centers, jails/prisons, and the
military. But importantly, many people with MRSA infections have no risk factors.
What can I do to prevent MRSA and other staph infections?
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Regularly wash hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer
Keep cuts/wounds clean and covered; see a health care provider if you notice redness,
swelling, or drainage
Bathe regularly, especially after every athletic activity
Avoid sharing of personal items, such as towels, razors, clothing, bedding, bar soap,
sports equipment and uniforms, brushes, combs, and makeup
Don’t insist on antibiotics from your health care provider for treating colds and other
viral infections
Don’t shave body areas that are unnecessary
Wear clothing that prevents direct skin contact with athletic/exercise equipment
What should I do if I have a MRSA or other skin infection?
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See a health care provider: Call MUMC at 414-288-7184 for an appointment
Keep draining wounds covered with clean, dry bandages
Finish an antibiotic prescription as directed by your health care provider
No participation in athletic events or other activities with skin contact unless the wound
can be covered effectively with a bandage
Kgb 5/2013
Marquette University
Medical Clinic
545 N. 15th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Phone 414-288-7184
What about cleaning equipment and surfaces?
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Clean equipment and other environmental surfaces if multiple people have skin contact
with it (or if someone with a MRSA infection may have had direct contact with it), e.g.
athletic/exercise equipment, doorknobs, counters, light switches, phones, keyboards,
toilet seats, bathtubs
Regular household cleaners are effective such as Lysol or 10% bleach solution (one part
bleach to nine parts water)
Laundry detergent and hot water is effective for clothing and linens. Use a dryer.
What is colonization with MRSA?
The distinction between colonization by a bacteria versus infection by a bacteria is important.
Colonization = the presence of the bacteria but no signs of illness or infection. Staph bacteria
are commonly found in the nostrils, belly button, underarms, groin, throat, rectum,
genitourinary tract.
Infection = clinical signs of illness or inflammation (pain, redness, warmth, swelling, pus,
fever). These are due to the bacteria penetrating the outer skin layers such as through a cut,
abrasion, or a razor nick. Treatment is indicated and usually includes an antibiotic.
No treatment is needed for colonization. The precautions that help prevent skin bacteria from
penetrating the protective skin layers are good hand hygiene and proper wound care.
How is MRSA treated?
An oral or topical antibiotic is prescribed by a health care provider. If an abscess is present, it
may need to be drained. It is important to keep open or draining wounds covered with a
bandage. Deeper infections or infections of parts of the body other than the skin, are treated in
a hospital setting.
Sometimes an individual will have several infections with MRSA over a period of time and
decolonization of these patients (and possibly household members) may be attempted with
nasal antibiotics and chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) baths. However, these efforts have not been
shown to be consistently effective in preventing future MRSA infections.
My friend/family member has MRSA. Should I be treated?
Current guidelines do not recommend that contacts of a person with CA-MRSA infection be
treated with antibiotics. Careful preventive measures, including washing hands, keeping
wounds covered, washing bed sheets and towels, avoiding shared personal items and cleaning
common surfaces is recommended in these situations. (In selected cases where interpersonal
transmission is suspected, household contacts might be treated with an intranasal antibiotic
and Hibiclens baths for decolonization.)
Should I be tested for MRSA?
Experts do not recommend widespread testing for MRSA because it is commonly found on
healthy individuals but there is a small risk of becoming infected. And recolonization
commonly occurs after treating individuals. Widespread treatment of a bacteria in a
population also causes increased antibiotic resistance. Therefore testing and treatment is
generally done only when an individual has an infection.
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