What are the symptoms of MRSA infection?
Frequently a MRSA infection looks like a pimple, rash, boil, or an open wound. Sometimes people think it is a spider bite. The skin infection caused by MRSA can have redness, warmth, swelling, pus, and/or pain. If not treated properly, MRSA skin infection may progress quickly from a soreness of the skin to an abscess or other serious body infection. Many people carry staph bacteria on their skin without any symptoms. How is MRSA spread? MRSA lives on skin and can live on objects for 24 hours or more. Drainage or pus from skin lesions can spread MRSA bacteria to other parts of a person’s body or to other persons. MRSA can rub off the skin of an infected person onto the skin of the other person during body contact. MRSA can also come off the infected skin of a person onto a shared object or surface and get onto the skin of the next person who uses it. Examples of shared objects include razors, towels, clothing, and sporting equipment. How long are people contagious? Persons can spread MR
Many people carry staph bacteria on their skin without any symptoms. Symptoms of a MRSA or other staph infection depend on where the infection is located. Infections of the skin are the most common, and cause symptoms such as redness, warmth, pus and a wound that does not heal. Your doctor may refer to these infections as boils, furuncles, impetigo, or abscesses. Infections can also develop in the blood, bone, bladder, lungs, and other sites. Symptoms there will depend on the site of infection, but include fever and pain at the site. What should I do if I think I have a MRSA or other staph infection? See your healthcare provider. Are MRSA and other staph infections treatable? Yes. Some staph skin infections can be treated simply by draining the sore and keeping the wound clean. For more serious infections, antibiotics can be used to treat these infections. If antibiotics are prescribed by your healthcare provider, it is very important to finish taking all the pills and to call your doc
