Healthcare-Associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA)
National Campaign to
Prevent MRSA Skin Infections
Overview of Healthcare-associated MRSA
Go to Community-Associated MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems.
MRSA infections that occur in otherwise healthy people who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as community-associated (CA)-MRSA infections. These infections are usually skin infections, such as abscesses, boils, and other pus-filled lesions. (see Community-associated MRSA. )
Background/General Information
- Podcast: Key fact about MRSA
Date Released: 10/23/2007, Running time 4:57 - Fact Sheet: Invasive MRSA 2007
- MRSA in Healthcare Settings 2007
- What is CDC doing about MRSA? 2007
- Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDRO's)
In Non-Hospital Healthcare Settings
Q&A about MDRO's in Long-term care, nursing homes, etc.
Date last modified: April 15, 2009
Content source:
Division of Healthcare
Quality Promotion (DHQP)
National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases (NCPDCID)
Infection Control Topics
- Infection Control Home
- Healthcare-Associated Infections
- Protecting Patients
- Protecting Healthcare Personnel
- Infection Control Guidelines
- Infection Control A-Z
- About DHQ
Related CDC Resources
Related Guidelines
- Management of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Healthcare Settings, 2006
PDF 235KB / 73 pages - Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings - 2002
- Isolation Precaution 2007