Disease Surveillance Epidemiology Program
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics called beta-lactams. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin, and amoxicillin. In the community, most MRSA infections are skin infections and these are considered non-invasive. When a person has MRSA bacteria, but it does not cause illness it is called "colonization." While 25 – 30% of people are colonized in the nose with staph, less than 2% of people are colonized with MRSA (Gorwitz RJ et al. Journal of Disease Surveillances, 2008:"197:1226-34.).
Severe or potentially life-threatening MRSA infections occur most frequently among patients in healthcare settings with an invasive MRSA infection. Patients in healthcare facilities may have weakened immune systems, undergo procedures (such as surgery) or have catheters inserted into the skin. These conditions make it easier for MRSA to get into the body and infect sterile sites, such as blood, CSF, or synovial fluid.
On this page...
Resources for Maine Residents
- MRSA Fact Sheet (Word) | or as PDF
- Living with MRSA: Learning how to control the spread of MRSA (pdf*)
- Federal FAQ's (pdf*)
- Federal MRSA fact sheet (pdf*)
- MRSA and Animals FAQ
Resources for Health Care Facilities
- Recommendations for the Prevention and Control of MRSA and VRE in Long Term Care Facilities (word*)
- MRSA outbreak checklist (word*)
- Moving to a hospital or skilled nursing facility (pdf*)
- EPA Registered Antimicrobial Products Effective Against MRSA (pdf*)
- HICPAC Management of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Healthcare Setting, 2006 (pdf*)
Resources for Schools
- MRSA Prevention and Control Information for School Athletic Programs (pdf*)
- NCAA/CDC downloadable posters (pdf*)
Reports and Publications
External Links