Contact Precautions
Gram positive cocci in clusters, Coagulase positive.
Staph aureus is a ubiquitous organism that colonizes the skin/nares and can cause invasive disease.
Can be broadly divided into health-care associated (HA) and community associated (CA).
HA-MRSA is associated with many hospital associated infections ranging from minor/severe skin and soft tissue infections to bloodstream infections and severe pneumonia.
It also causes many device associated infection and prosthetic infections.
CA-MRSA is associated with skin and soft tissue infections (e.g. abscesses) and necrotizing pneumonias. However, it can also cause many severe infections as with HA-MRSA.
MRSA risk factors include:
Highly virulent organism.
Infection manifests as:
S. aureus UTI should always trigger assessment for bacteremia.
Infectious Diseases consultation recommended for all S. aureus bacteremia.