In healthcare facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes, patients or residents most likely to get an MRSA infection are those with other health conditions making them sick. Also, hospital or nursing home patients who have been treated with antibiotics, have wounds or invasive medical devices such as catheters, or have certain procedures like surgery or dialysis are more likely to get an infection.
Being treated in the same room as or close to another patient with MRSA can also increase a patient’s risk of getting MRSA, as the bacteria are easily spread on unclean hands or medical equipment. In general, the first step in getting a MRSA infection is carrying the germ (also called becoming colonized with MRSA). Once a person has MRSA they are at higher risk for getting an infection.
People who are healthy and who have not been in the hospital or a nursing home can also get MRSA infections. These community infections usually involve the skin. This type of MRSA infection is known as community-associated MRSA. There are steps you can take to prevent MRSA infections in the community where you live, work, and play.