MRSA Symptoms / Staph Infection Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of MRSA

MRSA infections usually start out as small, red, swollen areas of skin, often thought to be spider bites, and then progress into deeper and more serious infections. Because MRSA is a mutated form of Staph, both MRSA and Staph skin infections look identical on exam.

• Superficial MRSA skin infections include pimples, boils, and impetigo. 
  • Impetigo is a superficial skin infection that often has a crusty and/or blistered appearance.
  • If left untreated, superficial infections have potential to progress into serious/invasive infections. 
• Deep MRSA skin infections include abscesses and cellulitis. Both of these present as painful, red, swollen areas of skin.
  
  

MRSA Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a deep skin infection that can spread into underlying tissue. 

• Cellulitis presents as a pink/red, tender, warm, and often swollen area of skin. 
• Cellulitis can be localized and non-invasive, i.e. limited to a specific site. However, cellulitis can change course and become invasive at any time. 
• Invasive cellulitis is a serious infection that is often accompanied by fever and body aches.
• Abscesses are often found within an area of cellulitis. The flesh-eating aspect of MRSA kills tissue and forms a pocket of pus. 
  
  

MRSA Abscess

An abscess is a deep pocket of pus. 

• An abscess presents as a pink/red, painful, warm, and usually swollen area of skin. 
• Cellulitis often accompanies an abscess, because bacteria from the abscess spread into the surrounding tissue. 
  
  

Spider Bite or MRSA?

MRSA skin infections are often thought to be spider bites. Spider bites are uncommon, think MRSA. This is not to say that spider bites cannot become infected with MRSA, they can! But, most “spider bites” are really the start of a MRSA infection!

MRSA Non-Skin Infections

Symptoms for MRSA non-skin infections are presented under “Diagnosis / Testing for MRSA.” The links below will take you directly to specific infections.

•  MRSA Pneumonia
•  MRSA Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis)
•  MRSA Joint Infection
•  MRSA Bone Infection (Osteomyelitis)
•  MRSA Heart Infection (Endocarditis)
•  MRSA Bloodstream Infection

How We Can Help You

We’ve compiled the medical research on MRSA, personal interviews with MRSA experts, and our years of experience in the treatment and prevention of MRSA into one convenient guide – MRSA MD Insider’s Guide. In it you’ll find answers on how you can permanently defeat MRSA.

Click Here – for more information.