MRSA infection

MRSA infections often occur in healthcare settings, but they can happen anywhere. Find out about symptoms and treatment for this virulent staph infection.

Update Date: 22.12.2025

Overview
Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Causes
Risk factors
Complications
Prevention
Diagnosis
Treatment
Preparing for your appointment
What you can do
What to expect from your doctor
What you can do in the meantime

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Overview

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is caused by a type of staph bacteria that's become resistant to many of the antibiotics used to treat ordinary staph infections.

MRSA infections that happen in a healthcare setting are often linked to surgery or use of artificial joints or tubing. MRSA that you get during or after being in a healthcare setting can be life-threatening.

MRSA infections that happen in the wider community usually spread by skin-to-skin contact. This infection often starts as a painful skin boil and can most often be treated with antibiotics.

Symptoms

Swollen, painful bumps that look like pimples or spider bites are an early symptom of skin infections caused by staph bacteria, including MRSA. These red bumps can turn into deep, painful boils, also called abscesses.

The area around the bumps may be warm to the touch. It may be filled with thick fluid or leaking the fluid. You also may have a fever.

Staph infections also can happen inside the body. These infections can be life-threatening and happen in bones, joints, surgical wounds, the bloodstream, heart valves and lungs. Symptoms depend on the site of infection.

Staph infection

MRSA infections start out as small red bumps that can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses.

When to see a doctor

Keep an eye on minor skin problems such as pimples, insect bites, or cuts and scrapes. This is especially important for children. If wounds seem to be infected or there's a wound and a fever, see a healthcare professional.

Causes

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is caused by a type of staph bacteria that that can't be treated by many of the antibiotics used to treat ordinary staph infections. MRSA infection is the result of decades of often unneeded antibiotic use. Even when antibiotics are used properly, they add to the rise of drug-resistant bacteria because they don't destroy every germ they target. Bacteria that survive treatment with one antibiotic soon learn to resist others.

Risk factors

MRSA infection is more likely if a person has already had a MRSA infection or has used antibiotics.Other factors that put someone at risk depend on the chance of contact with staph bacteria.

Healthcare or hospital strains are more common among people who:

  • Get care in the hospital. MRSA often affects older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
  • Had surgery or use a medical device. Medical tubing such as IV lines or catheters can provide a pathway for MRSA to travel into the body.
  • Live in a long-term care facility. People in care facilities may bring MRSA back from a hospital stay. Or MRSA may spread through contact with other patients or healthcare professionals.

Community strains of MRSA are more common among certain groups.

  • People who play contact sports. MRSA can spread through cuts and scrapes and skin-to-skin contact.
  • People who live in crowded conditions. MRSA outbreaks have occurred in military training camps, child care centers and prisons.
  • Men who have sex with men. This group of people has a higher risk of developing MRSA infections.
  • People with HIV infection. People with HIV have a higher risk of developing MRSA infections.
  • People who use illegal injected drugs. People who use illicit injected drugs have a higher risk of MRSA infections.

Complications

MRSA infections can resist the effects of many common antibiotics. That makes the infections harder to treat. Because they're harder to treat, they spread more easily and sometimes become life-threatening. MRSA infections may affect your bloodstream, lungs, heart, bones or joints.

Prevention

To prevent MRSA infection, follow good hygiene practices.

  • Wash your hands. Wash your hands well and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Keep wounds covered. The fluid from infected sores may contain MRSA, so keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with clean, dry bandages until they heal.
  • Keep personal items personal. Don't share personal items that can spread MRSA such as towels, sheets, razors, clothing and athletic equipment.
  • Shower after athletic games or practices. Shower right after each game or practice. Use soap and water. Don't share towels.
  • Sanitize linens. If you have a cut or sore, wash towels and bed linens in a washing machine set to the hottest water setting, with added bleach, if possible. And dry them in a hot dryer. Wash gym and athletic clothes after each wearing.

People who are in the hospital and who have MRSA infection are often placed apart, in isolation. That helps stop the spread of MRSA. Visitors and healthcare professionals caring for people in isolation may need to follow strict hygiene practices and wear protective garments.

Diagnosis

MRSA infection is diagnosed by finding bacteria in samples of pus, tissue or body fluids. For skin damage, your healthcare professional looks at any skin sores or areas of concern. Other symptoms, such as fever, can help determine treatment.

If the MRSA infection is in the body, imaging tests, such as an MRI scan or a CT scan, may be used to identify complications from a staph infection. An imaging test for your heart, called an echocardiogram, also may be suggested.

Treatment

MRSA can be treated with certain antibiotics. These medicines may be applied to the skin, taken by mouth or be given by IV. If you're given an oral antibiotic, be sure to take it as directed. Finish all the medicine you are prescribed. Ask your health professional what symptoms you should watch for that might mean your infection is getting worse.

A MRSA infection that causes a large boil, also called an abscess, may need to be drained. In some cases, infected tissue may need to be removed.

Treatments may be used alone or together depending on the infection.

If your infection involves a medical device, such as a urinary catheter, cardiac pacemaker or artificial joint, it may need to be removed. For some devices, removal might require surgery.

Preparing for your appointment

For a skin infection, you may see a primary healthcare professional. You also may see a healthcare professional who focuses on skin diseases, called a dermatologist. Other members of your healthcare team may include a health professional who focuses on infectious diseases or a specialist for the heart, called a cardiologist.

What you can do

Before your appointment, you might want to write a list that includes:

  • Detailed descriptions of the symptoms.
  • Key medical information, including other health conditions.
  • All medications, herbs, vitamins and other supplements you take and the doses.
  • Questions you want to ask your healthcare professional.

For a MRSA infection, some basic questions to ask include:

  • What might be causing my symptoms?
  • Do I need tests to confirm the infection?
  • What's the best treatment for a staph infection?
  • Can I spread the infection to others?
  • How can I tell if my infection is getting better or worse?
  • What activities should I avoid for now?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions together?
  • Do you have any brochures or other printed material that I can take? What websites do you recommend?

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare professional will likely ask you a number of questions, such as:

  • When did you first notice your symptoms? Can you describe them?
  • How severe are your symptoms?
  • Have you been around anyone with a staph infection?
  • Do you have any implanted medical devices, such as an artificial joint or a cardiac pacemaker?
  • Do you have any ongoing medical conditions, including a weakened immune system?
  • Have you recently been in the hospital?
  • Do you play contact sports?

What you can do in the meantime

If you think you have a MRSA skin infection, take extra steps not to spread the bacteria. Wash your hands often. Keep the area clean and covered, and don't pop or touch the sore. Don't share anything that touches your skin and could then touch the skin of others.

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