The full name for MRSA is Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (or the 'superbug'). It belongs to the Staphylococcus aureus family of germs.
Staphylococcus aureus is a very common cause of bacterial infections such as boils, carbuncles, infected wounds, deep abscesses and bloodstream infection (or bacteraemia).

In the 1880s doctors realised it was the most common cause of infected surgical wounds.
When penicillin was introduced in the 1940s most strains of S. aureus were sensitive to this anitbiotic, but before penicillin was developed these infections could cause serious or sometimes fatal disease.

Eventually the more penicillin was used to treat these infections, some strains of S. aureus were able to make an enzyme called penicillinase which broke down the penicillin which protected the bacteria, making the infections become resistant to the antibiotic.

By 1959 about 90-95% of the S.aureus strains of infections were resistant to penicillin. The bacteria causing the infection had changed so that penicillin was no longer effective for treating these infections.

To treat these S.aureus infections a new drug called 'Methicillin' was developed from penicillin. It was made to counteract the breakdown of the antibiotic by the enzyme (penicillinase), ensuring that the penicillin-resistant S.aureus would still be treatable by the new drug.

Up until the 1980 MRSA was relatively uncommon but by mid 1990 the problem became epidemic with certain strains of the infection, particulary in hospitals in the the UK passing easily between patients and hospital staff and consecquently having the capacity to cause serious disease. Or even death.

Staphylococcus aureus
S.aureus is just one of a family of staphylococcal bacteria. It normallly lives on human skin.and can be harmless. The infection with comes about when the staph infection enters the body and bloodstream through a cut or wound, dialysis, or a catheter.

A person is more vunerable to the infection if they already have a weak immune system, very often affecting people in hospital or care homes or any person that has had surgery or an open wound.

What are the symptoms of MRSA
Staph skin infections normally cause an area of skin to become red, swollen, and painful.

Other symptoms may include:
Abcess on the skin or with pus
High temperature and fever
Hot tender skin

When to seek medical advice
Keep an eye on minor skin problems — pimples, insect bites, cuts and scrapes — especially in children. If wounds become infected, see your doctor.
Ask to have any skin infection tested for MRSA before starting antibiotic therapy.
Drugs that treat ordinary staph aren't effective against MRSA, and their use could lead to serious illness and more resistant bacteria.

How to prevent a Staph infection
The best way to prevent skin infections is simple - wash your hands.with ordinary soap
Washing your hands often with soap and warm water also helps to prevent colds and flu. and especially after direct contact with another person’s skin.

Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until they have healed.

Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.

Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, washcloths, toothbrushes, and razors.
Sharing these items may transfer staph from one person to another.

Keep your skin healthy, and avoid getting dry, cracked skin, especially during the winter.

Healthy skin helps to keep staph/MRSA on the surface of your skin from causing an infection underneath your skin.

See doctor if you have any questions or an infection that does not improve.

How to prevent others becoming infected
Cover your wound with clean, dry bandages and follow your doctor’s instructions on how to take care of the wound.

Wash your hands frequently.

Do not share personal items such as towels, facecloths, razors or clothing that may have had contact with the infected wound or bandage.

Get medical advice.

Are staph and MRSA infections treatable?
Yes most of these infections are treatable with antibiotics. If you are on antibiotics, take all of the doses, even if the infection is getting better.

Do not share antibiotics with other people or save unfinished antibiotics to use at another time.

Your doctor may decide to treat the skin infection by draining the abscess or boil and may or may not give antibiotics.
Drainage of skin boils or abscesses should only be done by a nurse or doctor.

If after having treatment the infection is not getting better contact them again. If other people you know or live with get the same infection tell them to go to their doctor.

Is it possible that the staph skin infection will come back after it is cured?
It is possible that a MRSA skin infection could reoccur after it is cured. To prevent this from happening, follow your doctor’s directions while you have the infection, and follow the steps above on - How to prevent a MRSA infection

For more information and support go to our Further Help and Information Support Page MRSA