MRSA acquired in healthcare settings (HA-MRSA) commonly causes serious and potentially life threatening infections, such as bloodstream infections, surgical site infections, or pneumonia.
The main way that HA-MRSA is spread is by healthcare workers' hands, which can be contaminated by touching:
- Patients with MRSA bacteria
- MRSA bacteria on the bodies of hospital personnel
- Devices, items, or environmental surfaces contaminated with body fluids containing MRSA
Standard precautions include:
- Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
Refer to:
- Wearing gloves, masks and gowns
- Handling devices properly
- Handling laundry properly
Resources
This icon identifies links to external web sites that will open in a new browser window. See the External Links Disclaimer link at the bottom of this page.
Some linked files require specific plug-ins to open. To download plug-ins, see the File Formats Used on This Site link at the bottom of this page.
Additional Information
CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention