Kane County Health Department



​MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus)

Staphylococcus aureus,"staph," are bacteria found throughout our environment and commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Approximately 25%to 30% of the population is colonized (when bacteria are present, but not causing an infection) in the nose with staph bacteria.


Symptoms

Sometimes, staph can cause an infection. Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these skin infections are minor (such as pimples and boils) and can be treated without antibiotics. However, staph bacteria also can cause serious infections or invasive infections such as surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia.

In the 1960's the antibiotic methicillin was commonly used to treat Staph infections. This lead to the development of strains of Staph-MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) that are resistant to methicillin as well as other antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin, amoxacillin. While 25% to 30% of the population is colonized with staph, approximately 1% is colonized with MRSA.


Diagnosis

A swab is taken from the affected area and is submitted to a laboratory for culture.


Treatment

Treatment varies from case to case. If the person or pet is colonized, no treatment may be needed. Persons with signs and symptoms of skin infections (e.g., redness, swelling, warmth, pain, tenderness) should consult with a health care provider. Pets with these symptoms should be taken to their veterinarian. Purulent skin infections may undergo incision and drainage. More serious infections may require antibiotic treatment. The choice of antibiotics should depend on culture-based antimicrobial susceptibility tests.​

​MRSA for Pet Owners

  • MRSA is transmitted to people from animals via direct skin-to-skin contact or by contaminated objects such as bandages from a MRSA-infected wound.
  • ​MRSA can cause skin or wound infections.
  • People and pets can be carriers. They may carry MRSA on their skin or in their nose and have no outward signs of illness. This is called colonization.
  • It is usually not necessary to get rid of a pet if it tests positive for MRSA. It is important, however, to be aware that dogs and other pets living in close contact with persons who are MRSA-infected or colonized also can become colonized with MRSA and this could result in recurrent MRSA colonization or infection in humans. Most MRSA skin infections can be prevented with proper hygiene. Healthy people rarely develop serious infections such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or bone infections.
  • Follow all wound care instructions from your veterinarian to avoid an infection. Keep your abrasions, cuts, and scrapes clean and covered with a clean, dry bandage until healed.
  • Practice good hand hygiene. You, your family, and others in close contact with the pet should wash their hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after changing the infected animal's bedding, bandages or any other objects that may have been in contact with the infected wound.
  • If possible, wear disposable gloves when touching items such as the animal's bedding, bandages or any other objects that may have been in contact with the infected wound. Perform hand hygiene after glove removal.
  • Clean washable items that become soiled with hot water and laundry detergent (use bleach if possible). Drying laundry in a hot dryer, rather than air-drying, also helps kill bacteria.
  • Use a household disinfectant or 1:100 dilution of household chlorine bleach to clean any surfaces contaminated by wounds or drainage. To make bleach solution mix 2 tablespoons of bleach into 1 quart of water. Be sure to mix a new bleach solution every day. Never mix bleach with other cleaners, especially ammonia.
  • If anyone in your home has recently had surgery or is immunocompromised, he/she should avoid contact with the infected pet, the pet's wound and any contaminated items such as bandage materials.
  • MRSA in animals is not reportable in Illinois. However, if a cluster of animal cases is identified, please report to KCHD.

Resources

MRSA fact sheet English
MRSA (SARM) fact sheet Spanish
IDPH - MRSA
IDPH - HYGIENE
IDPH - SCHOOL STAPH PRACTICES
IDPH - MRSA SCHOOL RECOMMENDATIONS
CDC - MRSA IN SCHOOLS
Communicable Disease Main Page