The Bottom Line

MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a type of staph bacteria that does not respond to common antibiotics like penicillin or amoxicillin. It can cause painful skin infections — from boils and abscesses to serious cellulitis. MRSA is now very common: it accounts for up to 75% of community staph skin infections in some parts of the United States. With the right antibiotics and sometimes minor drainage of a wound, most MRSA skin infections are fully curable. Preventing it from coming back requires treating colonized areas of your body.

What Is MRSA?

MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It is a strain of staph bacteria that has developed resistance to most penicillin-type antibiotics. This means many common antibiotics will not work to treat it — but other antibiotics still do.

There are two main types of MRSA:

  • Community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA): Picked up in everyday settings like schools, gyms, or households. This is the type most people mean when they talk about MRSA skin infections.
  • Healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA): Acquired in hospitals or medical facilities, often more difficult to treat.

About 1 to 2% of the general population carries MRSA on their skin or in their nose without any symptoms. Carriers can spread it to others through skin contact.

Signs and Symptoms

MRSA skin infections can look like many other skin problems at first:

  • Boil or abscess: A red, swollen, painful lump filled with pus — often mistaken for a spider bite
  • Cellulitis: Red, warm, spreading skin infection without a defined pus pocket
  • Impetigo: Clusters of pus-filled blisters with a honey-colored crust, usually on the face or arms
  • Folliculitis: Painful red bumps around hair follicles that may contain pus

Warning signs that the infection has become serious: fever, chills, spreading redness, red streaks running from the wound, or feeling very sick. These require emergency care.

What Causes MRSA Skin Infections?

MRSA spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with contaminated surfaces (towels, razors, sports equipment). Risk factors include:

  • Prior MRSA infection or colonization
  • Recent antibiotic use (which can allow resistant strains to take over)
  • Close contact sports or crowded living conditions (dorms, prisons)
  • Healthcare exposure (hospitals, dialysis centers, nursing homes)
  • Cuts, scrapes, or broken skin that allow bacteria to enter
  • Weakened immune system

Treatment Options

Drainage (for abscesses): Many small MRSA abscesses can be treated by a doctor making a small cut to drain the pus. This alone may be enough for minor infections in people with healthy immune systems.

Antibiotics: For more than minor skin infections, antibiotics are needed. Common effective options include trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX, also known as Bactrim), doxycycline, and clindamycin — all taken by mouth. For serious infections, IV antibiotics such as vancomycin or linezolid may be required. Standard antibiotics like amoxicillin or most cephalosporins will not work against MRSA.

Decolonization (to prevent recurrence): About 30 to 40% of people get MRSA again after treatment because the bacteria still lives in areas like the nose, groin, or armpits. Decolonization involves applying antibiotic ointment (mupirocin) inside the nose and using special antiseptic body washes (chlorhexidine) daily for several days. This significantly reduces the chance of re-infection.

Wound care at home: Keep the infected area clean and covered. Do not share towels, razors, or clothing. Wash your hands and laundry frequently.

When to See a Dermatologist

  • You have a painful, swollen lump or abscess that is growing or not improving
  • A skin infection does not get better after 5 to 7 days on antibiotics
  • You keep getting skin infections — dermatologists can identify MRSA colonization sites and design a decolonization plan
  • You develop fever, spreading redness, or red streaks from a wound — go to an ER immediately
  • A household member also has recurrent skin infections (the whole household may need evaluation)
  • You are immunocompromised and develop any skin infection

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do common antibiotics not work on MRSA?

MRSA carries a gene (mecA) that changes the way it builds its cell wall. Penicillin-type antibiotics work by blocking cell wall construction — but MRSA's altered cell wall process cannot be blocked by those drugs. This resistance is built into the bacteria's DNA and cannot be overcome by higher doses. Other classes of antibiotics work through different mechanisms and still kill MRSA effectively.

Can MRSA be cured?

Yes. Most uncomplicated MRSA skin infections cure completely with the right antibiotics and drainage when needed. More than 90% of cases respond well to proper treatment. The main challenge is preventing recurrence — about 30 to 40% of people get another infection because MRSA lives quietly in their nose or skin folds. A decolonization program after treatment can greatly reduce this risk.

Is MRSA contagious?

Yes, MRSA can spread to close contacts through direct skin contact or shared personal items. Most people who are exposed do not develop an infection unless they have a break in the skin or a weakened immune system. Simple steps like handwashing, not sharing personal items, and keeping wounds covered are the most effective ways to prevent spread in a household.

Which antibiotics treat MRSA?

For mild-to-moderate skin infections, oral antibiotics such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim), doxycycline, and clindamycin are typically used. Your doctor will usually confirm with a culture and sensitivity test that the specific strain you have is susceptible. For severe infections, IV vancomycin remains the standard of care. Your doctor will select the right antibiotic based on your test results and infection severity.

  1. Klevens RM, Morrison MA, Fridkin SK, et al. Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a single disease? Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2006;27(6):659-661.
  2. Moran GJ, Krishnadasan A, Gorwitz RJ, et al. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections among patients in the emergency department. N Engl J Med. 2006;355(7):666-674.
  3. Ingham B, Skov RL, Utaaker KS, Argemi X. Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: evolution and epidemiology. Infect Drug Resist. 2019;12:4046-4070.
  4. Wallin MT, Marshall GD Jr. MRSA skin and soft tissue infections in the community. J Clin Med. 2016;5(9):77.
  5. Li S, Zhao X, Sullivan J. Role of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for MRSA skin infections. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2013;44(3):234-241.
  6. Gonzales RB, Hultén KG, Lamberth L. Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin infections. Clin Infect Dis. 2007;45(5):541-547.
  7. Liu C, Bayer A, Cosgrove SE, et al. Clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America for treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. Clin Infect Dis. 2011;52(3):e18-e55.
  8. Tong SY, Davis JS, Eichenberger E, Holland TL, Fowler VG Jr. Staphylococcus aureus infections: epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and management. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2015;28(3):603-661.
  9. Cuervo M, Arévalo-Hernández CO. Decolonization strategies in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriers: a systematic review. Infect Drug Resist. 2020;13:315-327.

Trusted Resources

Always consult a board-certified dermatologist or your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment of your specific condition. This article is for educational purposes only.