There are lots of different types or families of germs found on the human body and in the environment around us. One of these families of germs is called Staphylococcus aureus. MRSA belongs to this family.
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is found on about a third of the population. It usually lives in the moist areas such as armpits, groin and nose, although it can be found on other parts of the body such as your hands. Mostly, it causes no problems, though like any other germ, it can cause infections. In particular, S. aureus can cause skin related problems such as pimples and boils. These germs can cause more serious infections if they get into sites where they would not normally be found, for example through cuts or surgical wounds.
MRSA is when S. aureus becomes resistant to methicillin, meaning that there is a reduced choice of antibiotics available to treat it, although it is still treatable with other antibiotics. Further information can be found on the NHS website.
