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Is Mercer Contagious?
Were you looking for information on Is MRSA Contagious? "Is Mercer contagious" is a common misspelling of "is MRSA contagious."
While not as highly contagious as other diseases, MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) can certainly be spread from person to person. Transmission is more likely to occur with direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with shared items or surfaces that have come into contact with someone else's infection, such as towels or used bandages.
When the infection first started appearing, it was more common in people who had already weakened immune systems, such as those in hospitals, nursing homes, and dialysis centers. During the mid- to late 1990s, however, MRSA was appearing in otherwise healthy people who had not been hospitalized or had a medical procedure.
Since MRSA is contagious, it is important to be aware of the factors that make it easier for the infection to be spread. These include:
- Crowding
- Frequent skin-to-skin contact
- Compromised skin (for example, cuts or abrasions)
- Contaminated items and surfaces
- Lack of cleanliness.
(Click Is MRSA Contagious? to learn more about how this disease is spread, who it is more likely to infect, and what exactly MRSA is. You can also click any of the links in the box to the right for specific information.)
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD