Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Disease Information

Staphylococcus aureus, or more simply "staph," are bacteria that often live in the nose or on the skin of healthy people. When these bacteria penetrate the skin or invade other parts of the body, a staph infection may result. Staph bacteria that are resistant to the action of methicillin and related antibiotics are referred to as "methicillin-resistant staph aureus" or MRSA.

MRSA bacteria are not only resistant to all penicillin-like antibiotics, but they are often resistant to many other types of antibiotics as well. Infections with MRSA can be costly and difficult to treat because of limited antibiotic options. In the past, MRSA has been a problem mainly in healthcare settings such as hospitals and nursing homes (healthcare-associated MRSA). Recently however, there have been many reports of MRSA infections—particularly skin and soft tissue infections such as boils, abscesses, and cellulitis—occurring among persons in the general community without any healthcare contact. These types of infections are labeled community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA).

Disease Reporting

MRSA cases are not reportable in Oregon.

Data

Invasive MRSA

• Annual MRSA Surveillance Reports (pdf files):

  2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

Antibiogram data

• 1996 and 2003 comparison report (pdf)

See Also

FAQs

• Frequently asked questions about MRSA in schools (pdf)
• Frequently asked questions about MRSA in the workplace (pdf)
• CDC MRSA website

CD Summary Articles

• MRSA Part 2: Invasive MRSA Infection in Oregon (pdf) - November 13, 2007
• MRSA Superbug? Part 1 (pdf) - October 30, 2007
• MRSA 2005: The New Normal (pdf) - March 8, 2005 (large print pdf)

Guidelines

• Strategies for Clinical Management of MRSA in the Community (pdf) - Summary of an Experts' Meeting convened by CDC, March 2006
  
• Management of Multidrug-resistant Organisms in Healthcare Settings, 2006 (pdf) - CDC and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee
• CDC guidelines on hand hygiene in healthcare settings - MMWR article
• Reducing the spread of CA-MRSA in non-healthcare settings (pdf) - Developed by Los Angeles County, CA; December 2004
• Recommendations on the prevention, treatment, and containment of MRSA outbreaks - Federal Bureau of Prisons (scroll down page to download current pdf)

Articles and News on MRSA

• Hospitalizations and Deaths Caused by Methicilllin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, United States, 1999-2005 - EID, CDC, 2007
• Invasive MRSA infections in the U.S. (pdf) - JAMA 2007
• Prevalance of Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization in the U.S., 2001-2002 (pdf) - JID 2006
• MRSA disease in three communities - NEJM article 2005
• Infections among competitive sports participants, 2000-2003 - MMWR article
• MRSA Infections in correctional facilities, Georgia, California, and Texas, 2001- 2003 - MMWR article
• Outbreaks of CA-MRSA skin infections, Los Angeles County, 2002–2003 - MMWR article
• Four pediatric deaths from community-acquired MRSA, Minnesota and North Dakota, 1997–1999 - MMWR article