Community associated MRSA (CA-MRSA)

MRSA is usually spread from person-to-person through contact with another person who is colonised or infected with MRSA.

It may also spread by having contact with items contaminated by a person with MRSA such as:

• towels
• wound dressings
• touching surfaces that are contaminated with MRSA (such as door handles and taps).

It is not usually spread through the air.

People with skin infections may have:

• redness
• swelling
• pain
• heat
• the presence of pus.

Sometimes the infection may look like an insect bite at the start. Symptoms of serious infection, which can be life-threatening and require urgent medical attention, may include:

• feeling generally unwell
• high fever
• shivering
• shortness of breath.

Antibiotics

Any infection caused by MRSA must be treated by a doctor, who should take a swab from the infected site to make sure the right antibiotics are given.

Remember, a lot of the usual antibiotics used for treating staph will not work for MRSA.

Once starting treatment, you should see improvement within 48 hours. If your infection does not get better, or if it worsens, you need to seek prompt medical attention.

The pus from these infections is very infectious and increases the risk of spreading if your hands or other surfaces become contaminated. You should always:

• wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, especially after contact with your wound or dressing.
• keep skin infections or wounds covered at all times until completely healed
• maintain good personal hygiene, for example through regular bathing/showering and changing of clothing
• wash bed linen and towels regularly, preferably using a hot wash and detergent
• keep your home environment clean with regular cleaning and/or vacuuming.

Do not share personal items including clothing, towels, toothbrushes, razors, sports equipment.

If you follow this advice, the risk of spreading CA-MRSA to your friends, work colleagues and casual contacts is minimised.

Currently, there is no vaccination available to prevent you from acquiring CA-MRSA.

Household contacts are people who live in your house on a regular basis.

CA-MRSA can spread easily to others in the same household. However, just because a person lives in your household does not mean they will get CA-MRSA.

Tell other people in your household that you have a CA-MRSA infection and share the following information with them:

They should discuss this information with their doctor, especially if they:

• have a history of skin infections
• are at risk of infection due to other medical conditions such as diabetes or cancer
• are planning to have an operation.

If any of your household contacts are carers or healthcare workers, they need to discuss this with the infection prevention and control professional at their workplace.

You should inform your doctor if there have been repeated skin infections within your household.

If you have a history of infection with any type of MRSA, you should let hospital staff know.

This will help them to provide the best care for you and ensure appropriate antibiotics are prescribed if required.