How many people have contracted MRSA?
The reported cases of MRSA infections in the U.S. have risen dramatically in the last several years. Each year, between 2001 and 2003, there were an estimated 12 million outpatient healthcare visits for suspected S. aureus skin and soft tissue infections in the United States. In 2004, approximately 76% of skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) in adults seen in 11 emergency departments were caused by S. aureus. Of these infections, 78% were caused by MRSA and overall, MRSA caused 59% of all SSTIs.
