MRSA is a form of bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus. These bacteria (often called “staph”) are commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Occasionally, staph can cause an infection and they are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Over the past 50 years, treatment of staph has become more difficult because staph bacteria have become resistant to various antibiotics, including the commonly used penicillin-related antibiotics. For more information please visit the CDC website.
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MRSA In Wyoming
MRSA is not a reportable condition in Wyoming so exact rates are unknown. However, we do know that it is quite prevalent and infections from it occur statewide.
Further Drug Resistance
MRSA infections cannot be treated by antibiotics such as cephalosporins, penicillin, and nafcillin. As a result, they are often treated with a drug called Vancomycin. However, due to its common use, some staph bacteria are developing resistance to Vancomycin as well. Depending on their level of resistance, these strains are called Vancomycin-Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) or Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA). These Vancomycin resistant strains are reportable but at this point in time they have NOT been detected here and there have been zero confirmed cases of both VISA and VRSA in Wyoming.