MRSA methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), or "staph," is a bacterium found in the nose or on the skin of approximately 20-30% of the U.S. population. It causes diseases ranging from mild to severe skin and soft tissue infections to more serious invasive diseases such as blood stream infections, pneumonia and toxic shock syndrome. Although most infections are treated successfully with antibiotics, some cases result in significant injury or death.

MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) refers to S. aureus strains that are resistant to certain antibiotics. MRSA emerged in U.S. hospitals in the 1960s and is now the most common drug-resistant organism found in hospital settings. According to national hospital surveys, MRSA represented two percent of all S. aureus infections in hospitals in 1975, 35% in 1991, and 64% in 2003.

There are two main types of MRSA. Healthcare-associated (HA) MRSA is found primarily in hospital patients and long-term care residents. In contrast, community-associated (CA) MRSA occurs in persons who report no contact with healthcare facilities.

Learn more about MRSA and how to prevent transmission in health care settings and in the community by clicking on the links below.

MRSA information for consumers

• MRSA fact sheet (PDF, 13KB)
• Community associated MRSA fact sheet (PDF, 25KB)
• Community associated MRSA patient pamphlet (PDF, 95KB)
• MRSA frequently asked questions

MRSA information for health professionals

• Guidelines for prevention and control of antibiotic resistant organisms in health care settings (PDF, 87KB) 
  The purpose of these guidelines is to assist health care organizations in implementing comprehensive plans to manage patients, residents and clients with antibiotic resistant organisms.

• Community associated MRSA guidelines for clinical management and control of transmission (PDF, 189 KB)
  This document discusses the epidemiology of community associated MRSA and offers treatment guidelines and infection control and prevention measures for both health care and community settings.

• Community associated MRSA patient pamphlet (PDF, 95KB) 
  Health care providers and local public health agencies can use this pamphlet to provide patients with general community associated MRSA information and prevention tips.

MRSA information for schools

• Guidelines for controlling CA MRSA transmission among students and athletes  (PDF, 76KB) 
  Recommendations such as hand and personal hygiene, screening athletes for skin infections, and protecting skin from injury are presented as ways to help reduce community associated MRSA skin infections in school settings and among athletes.
• Slide presentation on CA MRSA guidelines for students and athletes (PPT, 558KB) 
  A PowerPointŪ presentation is available to educate students, sports team members, coaches, school administrators, school nurses, and parents on the guidelines for preventing community associated infections in schools and among sports team members.
• Community associated MRSA patient pamphlet (PDF, 95KB) 
  Patient information and prevention tips are found in this pamphlet. Health care providers and local public health agencies can use this pamphlet to provide patients with general community associated MRSA information and prevention tips.

For information about MRSA in your community, please contact your local health department  

Additional information

• CDC guidelines on multi-drug resistant organisms (Exit DHS)

• Minnesota Department of Health: Skin infections in athletes guidelines (Exit DHS)

For MRSA Information 
Gwen Borlaug  Infection Control Epidemiologist
WI Division of Public Health
Bureau of Communicable Diseases
   608-267-7711  Phone
   608-261-4976  Fax

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Last Revised: February 10, 2009