COMMUNITY ACQUIRED MRSA
(Methicillin – resistant Staphylococcus aureus)

What is MRSA?
Staphylococcus aureus (staph) is a bacterium commonly carried on the skin, in the rectum, or in the nose of healthy people without causing any problems. MRSA (Methicillin – resistant Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria have become resistant to commonly used penicillin-related antibiotics.

Who gets MRSA?
MRSA is a common cause of hospital-acquired infections. However, recent reports indicate a nationwide increase in community-acquired MRSA skin infections among bisexual and gay men – in other words acquired outside of hospital settings. While not a sexually transmitted infection, it is believe that a significant number of these cases have been transmitted during sex, and so men who have sex with men should take precautions against getting MRSA.

What are the symptoms associated with MRSA infection?
MRSA infections can cause a broad range of symptoms depending on the part of the body that is infected. It can cause minor infections, like pimples and boils or, occasionally, more serious infections, like pneumonia. Infection often results in redness, swelling and tenderness at the site of infection. Community-acquired infections have mostly been skin infections. A significant number of these infections must be surgically drained, in addition to treatment with antibiotics.

How is MRSA transmitted?
MRSA and other staph infections are almost always transmitted by direct or indirect physical contact and not through the air. Among gay men, we have often seen MRSA transmitted through direct contact during sexual encounters. However, it may also be transmitted through indirect contact – touching objects (e.g., towels, sheets, wound dressings, clothes, benches, sports equipment) contaminated by the infected skin of a person with MRSA. In fact, prior outbreaks of community-acquired MRSA have been seen among professional athletes.

How long can an infected person carry MRSA?
Some people can carry MRSA asymptomatically in their nose or rectum for days to many months, even after their infection has been treated.

How are MRSA infections diagnosed?
MRSA infections are diagnosed when a medial provider obtains a sample from the site of infection and submits it to a laboratory. The laboratory then tests the bacteria using various antibiotics to determine if it is resistant to (able to withstand or tolerate) or sensitive to (able to be killed) select antibiotics.

What is the treatment for MRSA?
Although MRSA cannot be effectively treated with standard antibiotics, it can usually be treated with more powerful ones. Recently, however, a few strains have developed resistance to even these more powerful antibiotics, making it treatment difficult. Newer antibiotics are being developed to address this problem. MRSA infection resulting in abscesses may require drainage.

What about contact with carriers?
If basic hygiene precautions are followed, MRSA carriers are not a hazard to others including their family and friends.

How can the spread of MRSA be controlled?
The best way to prevent staph or MRSA infection is to practice good hygiene. Careful hand washing is the single most effective way to control spread of MRSA.

• Limit your number of sex partners, and carefully wash hands and genitals after sexual activity.
• If you think you have MRSA, avoid any sexual contact and visit your local STI clinic, hospital or medical provider.

If you are a medical provider and would like more information on MRSA from the CDC, click here