Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Infection in Healthcare Settings
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics called beta-lactams. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin, and amoxicillin. In the community, most MRSA infections are skin infections. More severe or potentially life-threatening MRSA infections occur most frequently among patients in healthcare settings. [Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is also called MRSA]
Resources for Patients and Healthcare Providers
- What Everyone Needs to Know About MRSA
- For more information visit CDC's MRSA web site.
FAQ's about Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) 
8.5" by 11" flyer is available in the following formats:
Prevention
- Siegel JD, Rhinehart E, Jackson M, et al. the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings, 2007
- Management of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms In Healthcare Settings, 2006
- Guideline for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities, 2003 [PDF - 1.4 MB]
- Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings, 2002
Toolkits
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Infections [PDF - 206 KB]
MRSA Toolkit [PPT - 744 KB] available in PowerPoint format
Activity C: ELC Prevention Collaboratives - MRSA Baseline Prevention Practices Assessment Tool For States Establishing HAI Prevention Collaboratives [PDF - 229 KB]
Prevention Resources for State Health Departments
- Collaboration Primer: Establishing HAI Prevention Collaboratives
Collaboration Primer [PPT - 920 KB] available in PowerPoint format.
Monitoring MRSA
CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network Patient Safety Component includes surveillance methods to identify and track healthcare-associated infections, such as MRSA infections. [More…]
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