Recently, there has been an increase in the community in staph infections that are drug resistant, and this has created concern in some Lassen County residents. There are steps one can take to help prevent becoming infected or infecting others with staph.

Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as "staph," are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Approximately 25% to 30% of the population is colonized (when bacteria are present, but not causing an infection) in the nose with staph bacteria. Sometimes, staph can cause an infection. Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these skin infections are minor (such as pimples and boils) and can be treated without antibiotics (also known as antimicrobials or antibacterials). However, staph bacteria also can cause serious infections (such as surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia).

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph that is resistant to certain antibiotics. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems.

Staph and MRSA can also cause illness in persons outside of hospitals and healthcare facilities. MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized nor had a medical procedure are known as Community Associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections.

Factors that have been associated with the spread of MRSA skin infections include: close skin-to-skin contact with someone who has a staph infection, contact with items and surfaces that have staph on them, openings in the skin such as cuts or abrasions, crowded living conditions and poor hygiene.

To help prevent Staph or MRSA infections:

1.  Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
2.  Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
3.  Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
4.  Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.