Overview
Staphylococcus aureus is a natural bacterium in human hosts that can also cause a broad spectrum of disease.
Community-associated skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) are most commonly caused by staphylococci or streptococci. Over the past 4 decades, epidemiologic tendencies have shown an escalation not only in healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant S aureus (HA-MRSA) but also in community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA).
CA-MRSA infections have become more common in athletes
and active individuals since the first reported cases in a high school wrestling team in 1993
and a British rugby club in 1998.
CA-MRSA differs from HA-MRSA in its genetic makeup, its increased pathogenicity, and its susceptibility to antibiotic treatment.
For patient education resources, see Infections Center, MRSA Infection (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infection), Sepsis (Blood Infection), Life-Threatening Skin Rashes, and Antibiotics.