MRSA infection

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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA); Hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA)

Staph skin infections normally cause a red, swollen, and painful area on the skin. Other symptoms may include:

• A skin abscess
• Drainage of pus or other fluids from the site
• Fever
• Warmth around the infected area

Symptoms of a more serious staph infection may include:

• Rash
• Shortness of breath
• Fever
• Chills
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Malaise  (general feeling of illness)
• Headache

Depending on the extent and severity of your symptoms, your doctor may recommend the following tests:

• A skin biopsy and culture from the infected site
• Culture of the drainage (fluid) from the infection, to see which organism grows in it
• Blood culture
• Sputum culture through coughing or bronchoscopy , if pneumonia is present or suspected
• Urine culture  if a urinary tract infection is present or suspected

Review Date: 11/09/2005
Reviewed By: Kenneth Wener, M.D., Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.