About Staph and MRSA

Key Points

Staphylococcus aureus, or staph, is a germ that lives on people. About 30% of people carry it in their noses.
Most of the time, staph does not cause any harm, but it can sometimes cause infections.
Some types of staph resist common antibiotics.

Symptoms of a Staph or MRSA infection can include:

Infection can be prevented by paying attention to the Four C’s:

Cuts: Keep cuts and scrapes clean with soap and water.
Contact: Don’t share personal items with people who are infected. Also, steer clear of skin-to-skin contact.
Clean: Clean shared objects and surfaces well.
Call: Make an appointment with a doctor if a skin infection is present.

Treat staph or MRSA infections early and follow healthcare providers' directions closely.

Some staph skin infections are treated by draining the sores. They may not need antibiotics.
A doctor should drain these sores.
Take all the antibiotics your doctor prescribes. Even if you feel better, finish the medicine.
Do not share your medicine with anyone else or save it for use at another time.
Call your doctor back if the infection does not get better after a few days.
If other people you know or live with get the same infection, tell them to go to their doctors.

Not finishing treatments for Staph or MRSA can make the bacteria stronger and may cause them to become resistant to antibiotics.

Updated February 25, 2025, by the Communicable Disease Unit, jmwinchell [at] shastacounty.gov (jmwinchell[at]shastacounty[dot]gov)