MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a type of bacterial infection that typically affects the skin. It's not surprising, then, that in most cases, this "staph" infection looks like a skin infection. It often appears as a single red bump that resembles a pimple, pustule, or boil; it is frequently mistaken for a spider bite.
The involved site may also contain pus or other drainage and be:
- Red
- Swollen
- Warm
- Painful.
Community-associated MRSA infections, which are seen less frequently, can develop into more serious invasive diseases, such as
pneumonia or bloodstream infections. This can lead to a number of other symptoms, including:
- Fever
- Chills
- Shortness of breath
- Loss of life.
(Click Signs and Symptoms of a MRSA Infection for more information on the symptoms that can occur with this disease. You can also click any of the links in the box to the right for specific information.)
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