At Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System we care deeply about the well being of our patients and their families.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics called beta-lactams. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin, and amoxicillin. Most MRSA infections are skin infections that often appear as a bump, a boil, or area that is red, tender and swollen, and is sometimes confused with a spider bite. More severe or potentially life-threatening MRSA infections occur most frequently among patients in healthcare settings.

You can take these steps to reduce your risk of MRSA infection:

• Maintain good hand and body hygiene
• Keep cuts, scrapes, and wounds clean and covered until healed
• Avoid sharing personal items such as towels and razors
• Get care early if you think you might have an infection