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175 Healthcare: Biological Hazards
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MRSA in Healthcare

Staphylococcus aureus, or staph, is a bacterium found in the noses or on the skin of about 20-30% of people in the United States. Staph bacteria are usually harmless but can sometimes cause serious infections. Most staph infections can be treated with antibiotics; however, some strains have developed antibiotic resistance.

MRSA is the most common drug-resistant infection found in hospital settings.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the name for the strains of staph bacteria that have become resistant to certain antibiotics that are usually used to treat staph infections. MRSA is the most common drug-resistant infection found in hospital settings, and it is on the rise.

The two main types of MRSA include healthcare-associated MRSA (HA MRSA), which is found mainly in hospital patients and long-term care facility residents, and community-associated MRSA (CA MRSA), which is found in those who have not had contact with healthcare facilities.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

2-1. MRSA is resistant to certain _____ used to treat staph infections.