See 'Additional Information'
Gram positive cocci in clusters, Coagulase positive
Staphylococcus aureus is a ubiquitous organism that colonizes the skin/nares and can cause invasive disease.
MRSA risk factors include:
Health care exposure (esp. prolonged hospital stay of 5 days or more)
Antimicrobial use (IV antibiotics within 90 days, any antibiotic use within 30 days)
Incarceration
Illicit intravenous drug use
Homelessness
Shared equipment
Pyogenic skin and soft tissue infection
MSK infection
Endocarditis
Abscess
Pneumonia
Infection of prosthetic devices
MSSA - Standard precautions.
MRSA - Requires contact precautions. Add droplet precautions if patient has a cough.