Who gets MRSA?
Anyone can get MRSA, even if they have not been sick or in the hospital. You are at higher risk of getting MRSA if you: • Have been on a lot of antibiotics, or have not taken your antibiotics as instructed by your caregiver. • Have taken antibiotics for a viral illness. Illnesses caused by a virus include the common cold, the flu, and most sore throats. A virus is a type of germ that cannot be killed by antibiotics. • Have recently been in the hospital or had surgery. • Have been in the intensive care unit (ICU). • Have been in close contact with someone who has MRSA. • Live in a long term care facility or are an older (elderly) adult. • Are a dialysis or diabetic patient. • Have any tubes going into your body, especially a tube that drains urine (catheter). • Have any hardware (metal implants) in your body. Hardware may include artificial (fake) joints, a pacemaker, or screws and plates to hold a bone in place. • Are an intravenous (IV) drug user. How do I know if I have MRSA? • If yo
