Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

There are many germs (micro-organisms) on our skin and in the environment around us. Most are harmless, some are beneficial while others can be harmful.

Staphylococcus aureus (or “golden staph”) is a common germ found on our skin and in the noses of a third of healthy people. While harmless most of the time, it can cause infections (e.g. when there is a break in the skin) but these are usually easily treatable either with simple surgery and / or common antibiotics (such as penicillins, the most common class of antibiotics).

MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. MRSA are varieties of Staphylococcus aureus that have developed resistance to methicillin (a type of penicillin) and several other classes of antibiotics. MRSA is not new. It was first found in the 1960s following the widespread use (and abuse) of antibiotics including methicillin and penicillin. MRSA is now found in many countries worldwide.

MRSA can be acquired in the community (e.g. homes and public areas). However, it is also found (and acquired) in healthcare facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes or dialysis centres. In some parts of the world, MRSA has become so prevalent that it is as common as non-MRSA. In Singapore, MRSA is less common but still accounts for a proportion of all documented infections by Staphylococcus aureus.

MRSA, like all Staphylococcus aureus, is spread usually by touch. A person with MRSA on his or her hands can pass it to people and things he or she touches. The risk of spreading increases when there are open wounds or cuts in the skin, in crowded living conditions and when hygiene standards are poor.