What is MRSA?

October 31, 2007

What is MRSA?

MRSA stands for “ methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.”

MRSA is a kind of Staphylococcus aureus (“staph”) bacteria, that is resistant to some kinds of antibiotics. It is resistant to a family of antibiotics related to penicillin that includes antibiotics called methicillin and oxacillin, and is often resistant to many other antibiotics as well.

Pronunciation: MRSA is sometimes said as a single word, “mersa,” or by saying all four letters, “M-R-S-A.” Either way is correct.

Photo of MRSA bacteria.
MRSA is a bacterium that is resistant to some kinds of treatment.

To understand MRSA it is helpful to learn about Staphylococcus aureus (“staph”) bacteria, because MRSA is a kind of staph.