Hi,

My wife works on the surgical floor of the hospital where they receive quite a few MRSA patients. Generally, MRSA is not spread to other people, unless they are sick, or have weak immune systems. Many people carry MRSA and don't know it because they are healthy and it doesn't normally show, or affect you, unless you have a depressed immune system for some reason.

Sometimes it does look like irritated pimples or small wounds (some people come in for 'spider bites' that turn out to be MRSA). If symptoms last a few days or more, or get worse, you should go to the doctor. It is spread by direct contact, and if you have to go to the hospital for it, you will go into isolation. The main thing is to catch it early and not let it spread- once caught, it is fairly treatable- most people are rid of it in a few weeks.

A simple swab can test for it (usually in the nasal cavity), but it also shows up on most lab work. Although she's never had anyone die from it on her floor (they're already AT the hospital at that point!), it can be fatal. Definitely get to a doctor if it doesn't clear up!