Overview
Staphylococcus aureus ("staph") infections have been around for many years, causing mild to severe illness. MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a form of staph infection that does not respond to routine treatment with some commonly used antibiotics, although other antibiotics are effective. Early detection and medical care are paramount to the success of MRSA treatment
Healthy people often carry staph bacteria on the skin or in the nose; most of the time these bacteria do not cause a problem. Staph is passed from person to person through direct contact with skin or through contact with contaminated items. Staph can enter the body through breaks in the skin and can sometimes cause infection.
Proper personal hygiene is the best defense against staph infection. The key ways to prevent the spread of staph bacteria are through frequent and thorough hand washing and through proper wound care. Hands should be washed after toileting, before eating, and before and after changing bandages. Additionally, avoid sharing razors, towels, bars of soap, or other objects that could pass bacteria from one person’s skin to another’s. Wounds should be cleaned and covered with bandages.
If you have any questions about your or your family’s personal health, ask your doctor.
Related Resources
- MRSA in San Diego Unified Schools: English
|
Spanish
- MRSA Information Sheet:
English
| Spanish
| Lao
| Tagalog
| Vietnamese
- MRSA Fact Sheet
- Questions and Answers about Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Schools (Centers for Disease Control)
- A Parent's Guide to MRSA in California:
English
| Spanish
- What Athletes Should Know
About MRSA
- CA Department of Education: A Letter from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell
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