The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Historically, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcusaureus (MRSA)has been classified as a nosocomi-al infection. Recently, however, MRSAhas been diag-nosed in the community (Beam & Buckley, 2006). Meticulous nursing care and patient education can pre-vent MRSAinfection in hospitals and in the community. S aureus, commonly!mown as staph, is a type of bacteria found in a healthy person. It is carried on the skin or in the nose and is not harmful. S aureus can caus.e minor skin infections, such as boils or pustules, and IS treated without antibiotics. Many people acquire infectious staph but it does not become harmful unless staph overgrowth occurs on the skin, in the nose, or in an open port such as a surgical wound, or until the organism comes in contact with an infected wound or body fluids (National Institute for Occupational Safet