County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Health
Acute Communicable Disease Control
313 N. Figueroa Street, Room 212
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 240-7941
Fax: (213) 482-4856
E-Mail:acdc2@ph.lacounty.gov

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"Staph" or Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) Information




Staphylococcus aureus, commonly referred to as “Staph,” are bacteria found in the nose or skin. Staph are the most common cause of skin infections. Some Staph have developed resistance to the most common family of antibiotics that treat skin and blood infections. These Staph are called methicillin (antibiotic)-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA infections are common in hospitals and other healthcare settings, like dialysis centers or nursing homes. MRSA infections in hospitals often affect the very old and the very young or the very sick. However, recently MRSA infections have been found in healthy people outside of the hospital. Most of these MRSA infections are found in the skin and soft-tissue (muscle, fascia, fat). Since they occur in people in the community, they are referred to as community-associated MRSA (or CAMRSA) infections.

CAMRSA is clinically and genetically different from MRSA infections that people acquire in healthcare settings. The information below should help consumers and healthcare professionals understand CAMRSA as a new and emerging disease.

People in Los Angeles County, the United States and around the world are getting skin infections caused by community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA). The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Public Health is working with the public, doctors and nurses to understand why this is happening and how to prevent these Staph/CA-MRSA skin infections from spreading.


News & Updates

• Los Angeles County: Annual Morbidity Reports (1/31/11)
• Community Associated MRSA: Presentation with slides by Dr. Elizabeth Bancroft (August 2008)
• Alternate Link to Presentation (Video Only)

Frequently Used Resources

• Community Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus: an Emerging Infectious Disease in Los Angeles County (The Public's Health, July/Aug 2005) Provides short summary of disease burden and includes clinical, epidemiological and laboratory hallmarks. Recommendations provided regarding treatment, decolonization, education, infection control and notification.
• Strategies for Clinical Management of MRSA in the Community (March 2006) CDC and Prevention Experts’ Meeting on Minimizing the Impact of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the Community.
• Guidelines of Evaluation & Management of Community Associated MRSA Skin & Soft Tissue Infections in Outpatient Settings
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Guidelines for Reducing the Spread of Staph/CAMRSA in Non-Healthcare Settings (September 2004) Prevention guidelines for those concerned about the potential transmission of CAMRSA, i.e. proprietors of facilities in which patrons and staff have bare skin contact with others or with shared equipment or surfaces (e.g., gyms, health clubs, and spas), or where patrons share close living spaces (e.g., homeless shelters, youth hostels, and camps).
• Canadian Recommendations for Reducing the Spread of CAMRSA (CMAJ, January 2007) New guidelines for the management and prevention of CAMRSA.
• Living With MRSA: Learning How to Control the Spread of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) (March 2006)
• QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: STAPH/MRSA SKIN INFECTIONS (Jan. 14, 2004) Educational handout on CAMRSA for patients and their families.
• PREGUNTAS Y RESPUESTAS Infecciones de la Piel por Estafilococo Aureus Resistentes a los Antibióticos (Mar. 15, 2004)
• Information for Athletes about MRSA from the California Department of Public Health (February, 2007)
• Community Associated MRSA/Staph: A Guideline for Athletic Departments (California Department of Public Health, 2007)
• Recommendations for Products to Effectively Disinfect Hands of MRSA
  (MMWR, October 2002)

Additional Resources

• Facts & Background
  
  • For Consumers: What is CA-MRSA? What does it look like? How to protect yourself against infection.
  • For Clinicians: Information on prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Background history of at-risk populations affected by the disease.

• Education Materials
  Fact sheets and brochures that can be printed for the consumer and clinician.
• Guidelines and Recommendations
  Guidelines and Recommendations for consumers and clinicians to prevent and control the spread of CA-MRSA infections.
• Myths & Misdiagnosis as Spider Bites
  CA-MRSA has commonly been misdiagnosed as spider bites in LA County. The true facts about spiders and spider bites are provided.
• MRSA in Los Angeles County
  Summary of outbreaks of CA-MRSA among specific populations in LA County.
• MRSA by Subject
  Coverage related to various topics including athletic teams, correctional facilities and hospital patients.
• CME on CAMRSA
  Continuing Medical Education credited courses for physicians. Registration fees may apply.
• Related Web Sites / Links
  Additional resources for further information.
• Archive of Past News & Updates
  Find past news and update postings on CA-MRSA.

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