1/16/2026 Public Health Education Topic:Â MRSA/VRSA
- Health Department
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Per CDC
Overview
Vancomycin-intermediate and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VISA/VRSA) are specific types of antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria.
Resistance to vancomycin in S. aureus is exceptionally rare.
Signs and symptoms
VISA/VRSA infections can look like pimples, boils or other skin conditions. VRSA can cause wound infections.
Who is at risk
People with underlying health conditions (e.g., diabetes and kidney disease).
People with tubes going into their bodies (e.g., catheters).
People with previous methicillin (oxacillin)-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections.
People who have recently taken vancomycin or other antibiotics.
How it spreads
Documented transmission of VRSA has not occurred in the U.S. VRSA could potentially spread in the same ways as MRSA (e.g., close physical contact with patients, contaminated material like bandages).
Prevention
Caregivers, visitors and anyone who has close physical contact with hospital patients infected with VISA/VRSA should:
Keep their hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid contact with other people's wounds or material contaminated from wounds.
Follow the hospital's recommended precautions when visiting a patient.
Healthcare providers should always follow core infection control practices (such as wearing gloves before and after contact with infectious body substances and adherence to hand hygiene) to reduce the risk of spreading these germs to patients.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Basics
Key points
MRSA is a type of bacteria that is resistant to several antibiotics.
Although anyone can get MRSA, some groups have a higher risk.
If left untreated, MRSA infections can cause sepsis or death.
Signs and symptoms
The symptoms of an S. aureus infection, including MRSA, depend on the part of the body that is infected. Broken skin, such as scrapes or cuts, is often the site of a MRSA infection. Most S. aureus skin infections, including MRSA, appear as a bump or infected area on the skin that might be:
Red.
Swollen.
Painful.
Warm to the touch.
Full of pus or other drainage.
Accompanied by a fever.
You cannot tell by looking at the skin if it's a MRSA infection. People sometimes confuse some MRSA skin infections with a spider bite. However, unless you actually see the spider, the irritation is likely not a spider bite.
Who is at risk
Although anyone can get MRSA, some groups have a higher risk:
Military personnel in barracks.
People who receive inpatient medical care.
People who have surgery or medical devices inserted in their body.
How it spreads
MRSA spreads in the community through contact with infected people, wounds, or things that have touched infected skin and are carrying the bacteria.
Some people who carry MRSA can go on to get a MRSA infection.
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