Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA for short, is a type of bacterial infection that typically affects the skin. In many cases, the infection is relatively mild, resulting in a red bump on the skin (similar in appearance to a spider bite). This bump (or cluster of bumps) may be swollen, painful, and warm, and may also contain pus or other drainage.
However, complications can also occur. For example, MRSA can cause serious invasive infections, including
pneumonia. These severe MRSA infections can cause a variety of other symptoms, including:
- Shortness of breath
- Fever
- Chills
- Loss of life.
These serious cases are more common in people who have healthcare-associated MRSA. Other types of serious MRSA infections can include infections of the soft tissue (
cellulitis), bone (osteomyelitis), or inner lining of the heart (endocarditis).
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