Health Information and Self Care Advice for Scotland

MRSA

Introduction

MRSA (sometimes referred to as the superbug) stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It is a bacterium from the Staphylococcus aureus family.

Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is a type of bacteria. About 1 in 3 of us carries it on the surface of our skin or in our nose without developing an infection - this is known as being colonised by the bacteria. However, if SA bacteria get into the body through a break in the skin they can cause infections such as boils, abscesses, or impetigo. If they get into the bloodstream they can cause more serious infections.

Most SA infections can be treated with antibiotics such as methicillin (a type of penicillin). However, SA is becoming increasingly resistant to most commonly used antibiotics. MRSA bacteria are those types of SA bacteria that are resistant to methicillin (and usually to some of the other antibiotics that are normally used to treat SA infections). 

MRSA is no more infectious than other types of SA bacteria. However, MRSA infections are more difficult to treat due to the antibiotic-resistance of the bacteria. Antibiotics can still be used to treat MRSA - the infection may simply require a much higher dose over a much longer period, or the use of an antibiotic to which the bacteria is not resistant.

Last updated on 27 June 2007 04:48 PM