Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

With the ever-increasing frequency of tabloid headlines describing the development of ‘super bugs’ that are resistant to modern antibiotics, it is easy to fall into the trap of regarding such events as a purely modern phenomenon. In fact, resistance to antimicrobial agents rapidly followed their initial introduction. The emergence of one such organism, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), has perhaps had more impact on medical care for patients and implications for the health workers dealing with them than any other. Healthcare facilities all over the world invest resources to try to reduce the threat it poses to those they care for, with varying levels of success. This article reviews the emergence of MRSA, its epidemiology, treatment and basic infection control measures.