Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common bacteria found in humans, primarily in the nose, but also on other mucous membranes and on the skin. Staph aureus is the most common cause of purulent wound infections and may also cause abscesses. Staphylococci can also cause pneumonia, meningitis and treatment-resistant infections of the skeleton and joints. If Staphylococci grow in the blood or on heart valves, the bacteria cause serious infections and a large portion have fatal outcome. 

The most common antibiotic used to treat staphylococcal infections is penicillin or penicillin-like antibiotics (beta lactam antibiotics).

In the case of MRSA, staphylococcus aureus has become resistant to common antibiotics. Severe infections caused by MRSA require the use of intravenous antibiotics such as vancomycin. Today, no cases of vancomycin-resistant bacteria have been reported in Sweden, but they already exist in other parts of the world. 

MRSA can be found and spreads easily in the hospital environment, but in recent years it is also rapidly spreading in the community. 

Site updated 2016-01-15