October is MRSA awareness month, and October 2 was World MRSA Day. MRSA, short for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a bacterial infection that is resistant to many types of antibiotics. These events help raise the awareness of MRSA around the globe and to activate survivors, communities, governments, healthcare officials, and personnel to join together to stop the spread of this preventable disease.
In the community, MRSA most frequently causes skin infections; however in healthcare settings it can cause more serious infections such as bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and surgical site infections. These serious infections can then lead to sepsis and even death.
Our Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Program is working to promote prevention of MRSA in healthcare settings, and provide technical expertise to healthcare partners. The HAI Program also conducts surveillance of MRSA through the National Healthcare Safety Network, and invasive cases of MRSA are a reportable condition under Arizona Administrative Code. The HAI Program has also created an educational flyer to inform the public about MRSA.
