The news media (Radio, television, newspaper, etc.) have reported several times recently on the emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections and the negative outcomes experienced by otherwise healthy individuals.  MRSA has been around for several years, usually associated with disease outbreaks in health care facilities or long term nursing home facilities.  It is now apparent that MRSA is becoming more common and community associated cases are now being identified.  Community associated MRSA (CA-MRSA)  has become a  concern for schools, athletic teams and other facilities where close skin to skin contact takes place or where equipment or other contaminated items may be shared.  These cases are usually skin infections, such as abscesses, boils and other pus-filled lesions, and can be successfully treated.    Rarely, the infection can become systemic and be spread to other areas of the body, causing severe invasive infections.  There is more research needed to determine why some infections become systemic and others remain colonized without signs or symptoms.  Since this organism is very common and is spread from person to person, there are several things we can do to prevent infection and the spread to others.  The first, and maybe the most important, is frequent hand-washing with soap and water.  If soap and water are not available, alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be used very successfully.  Cuts and scrapes need to be kept clean and bandaged until healed.  Personal items like towels and razors should not be shared and contact with other people's wounds or bandages needs to be avoided.  Shared exercise equipment needs to be sanitized between each use and persons with skin lesions should not be allowed to use the equipment unless their sores are properly bandaged with no sign of leakage.  MRSA is not a “super” bug that cannot be controlled.  Good hygiene practices and early treatment when infection is realized, can be the best prevention for serious illness.  More information on MRSA can be found on our website, www.cantonhealth.org ,or on the links we provide to the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Our Nursing Division is also available at 330-489-3322 to answer your questions.