Resistant Staph Bacteria Found in Homes

The “super bug” known as MRSA isn’t just in hospitals, prisons and locker rooms. A new study shows that it could be in your home, too. MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. These staph bacteria are hard to kill because they resist most antibiotics. MRSA once was found mainly in hospitals and nursing homes. But in recent years it has spread to the community. Some people have been infected in close quarters, such as prisons and locker rooms. The new study focused on 161 New York City residents infected with MRSA. Researchers compared the genetic makeup of MRSA from these people with a group who were not sick. They also tested other household members and social contacts of both groups. Finally, they tested surfaces in people’s homes. They found that the homes of people with MRSA were “major reservoirs” of a MRSA strain called USA300.