MRSA

American  

[mur-suh, saidasletters] / ˈmɜr sə, saidasletters /

noun

1. methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , a bacterium that is highly resistant to methicillin, penicillin, and certain other antibiotics, and may cause infections of the skin, blood, lungs, etc..

   MRSA infections in hospitals and healthcare facilities.

2. a staph infection caused by these bacteria.

   the threat of MRSA among athletes.

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MRSA British  

abbreviation

1. methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus : a bacterium that enters the skin through open wounds to cause septicaemia and is extremely resistant to most antibiotics. It has been responsible for outbreaks of untreatable infections among patients in hospitals

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Etymology

Origin of MRSA

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

These samples reflected a wide range of genetic variation and life exposures, including flu; HIV-1, MRSA, MSSA, and SARS-CoV-2 infections; anthrax vaccination; and exposure to organophosphate pesticides.

From Science Daily • Feb. 11, 2026

She said she had privileges stripped and eventually was diagnosed with MRSA, an antibiotic-resistant infection.

From Seattle Times • May 16, 2024

Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, died on April 30 after battling a stretch of illness that began with influenza B and MRSA, a bacterial infection, and eventually pneumonia.

From Salon • May 2, 2024

The NHS has previously said it hopes it could be an alternative to nasal antibiotics, which are currently given to patients before their surgery to prevent infections such as MRSA.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2024

Researchers then took 20 mice and deliberately infected them with methicillin-resistant S. aureus, better known as MRSA.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2024