Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Threat Level Serious

METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS THREAT LEVEL SERIOUS

323,700 10,600 $1.7B Estimated cases Estimated Estimated attributable in hospitalized deaths in 2017 healthcare costs in 2017 patients in 2017

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) are common bacteria that spread in healthcare facilities and the community. Methicillin- resistant S. aureus (MRSA) can cause difficult-to-treat staph infections because of resistance to some antibiotics.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW CASES OVER TIME ■■ Although several treatments are still available, MRSA Cases represented do not include the many skin infections that has become resistant to many first-line antibiotics. happen, but are not cultured and diagnosed.

■■ While MRSA infections overall are dropping, progress 500,000 to prevent MRSA bloodstream infections in healthcare 401,000 is slowing. 400,000 391,000 365,400 359,500 ■■ People who inject drugs are 16 times more likely to 343,100 323,700 develop a serious (invasive) MRSA infection than those 300,000 who do not.

200,000

100,000 Estimated Cases of MRSA in Hospitalized Patients in Hospitalized Cases of MRSA Estimated

0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

An estimated 7% decline each year 20

An estimated 17% decline each year from 2005 to 2016, and no change from 2013 to 2016 5 Estimated Cases of MRSA Per 100,000 People 100,000 Per Cases of MRSA Estimated

0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Community-onset MRSA Bloodstream Infection Rate Hospital-onset MRSA Bloodstream Infection Rate 500,000

401,000 400,000 391,000 365,400 359,500 343,100 323,700 300,000

METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS200,000 (MRSA)

MRSA INFECTIONS CAN BE PREVENTED REDUCTIONS100,000 IN HOSPITALS HAVE STALLED

MRSA infections are preventable and many lives have been New Patients in Hospitalized Cases of MRSA Estimated strategies in healthcare, along with current CDC 0 saved through effective infection control interventions. recommendations,2012 could 2013 prevent 2014 more 2015 MRSA infections. 2016 2017 MRSA Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers reduced rates of infections in communities may be connected to the opioid crisis.

MRSA by 55% between 2005 and 2017. This success was 30 driven by the implementation of CDC-recommended interventions at 153 VA hospitals across the country. 25 The VA took steps to prevent the spread of MRSA and device- and procedure-associated infections. This included An estimated 7% decline each year screening all patients for MRSA on admission, tracking 20 MRSA infections, using Contact Precautions (such as gloves and gowns) for people with MRSA, and increasing 15 the emphasis on hand hygiene. 10 Success was also driven by a change in institutional An estimated 17% decline each year from 2005 to 2016, culture, which made preventing MRSA infections the and no change from 2013 to 2016 responsibility of any VA employee taking care of patients. 5 Estimated Cases of MRSA Per 100,000 People 100,000 Per Cases of MRSA Estimated Employee adherence to infection prevention practices was tracked. Many hospitals outside of the VA system 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 have also successfully reduced MRSA rates by assessing facility data and implementing CDC-recommended Community-onset MRSA Bloodstream Infection Rate Hospital-onset MRSA Bloodstream Infection Rate prevention strategies. Adjusted bloodstream infection rates from population-based surveillance in six CDC Emerging Infections Program sites. Community-onset infections include those in people who have not had recent inpatient healthcare exposure or an invasive medical procedure.

ONLINE RESOURCES

About MRSA www.cdc.gov/mrsa/index.html

CDC Vital Signs: Staph Infections Can Kill www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/staph/index.html

This fact sheet is part of CDC’s 2019 Antibiotic Resistance Threats Report. The full report, including data sources, is available at www.cdc.gov/DrugResistance/Biggest-Threats.html. CS298822-A