Causes of MRSA

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MRSA does not normally affect healthy people. You may contract the infection if you are tired and run down, ill, injured or have had some kind of surgery. This includes people with deep wounds or catheters (plastic tubes placed in the body to drain fluids) or intravenous drips. People in hospital are particularly vulnerable as the bacteria can be spread from person to person quite easily. However, there have also been a small number of cases of community-acquired MRSA (ca-MRSA), which have been spread among people who have not been in contact with hospitals.

If you get MRSA while you are in hospital your wound may take more time to heal and any treatment you are on may be altered to ensure that the infection clears up. It is also likely that you will be separated from other patients who have not been colonised with the bacteria. This is to stop the germ spreading.

If you are not in hospital, it is still very important to take basic hygiene precautions. This includes covering cuts and broken skin with waterproof plasters and washing hands frequently and thoroughly.