MRSA, used to be a hospital-acquired infection not long ago. The bacteria has migrated into the community with greater risks for any one to catch it. A good hygiene remains your best protection.

As Dr John Conly (Canadian Medical Association Journal) describes it, "an old foe with new fangs." - It starts like a spider bite or a pimple and becomes rapidly an infection with pus. It may develop into a more serious even life threatening infection if it gets into the blood or bones. Some strains are extremely virulent . It is spread through close physical contact with an infected person or by touching things contaminated by the bacteria such as clothes, pieces of equipment etc. The bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicilin) can live on the skin and survive on objects for 24 hours or even longer.

In the US, several epidemic have already occurred specially amongst sport teams, day care, prisons and colleges .

Here in Canada Outbreaks have already occurred in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario with infections reported in Toronto. It is not imuno-depressed or aging persons who may be infected but healthy youngsters

It’s one of those things that once it’s in the community, you’re going to see more of it. It’s like any illness.”
The Coaching Association of Canada and the Canadian Committee on Antibiotic Resistance are launching a national campaign to educate coaches, parents and athletes about the spread of Staph infections in sport. Measures such as strict hygiene in lockers rooms particularly are easy to implement and reduce the risk considerably. Information to the population as well as doctors is also essential.

For more information read some well documentated sites:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca_public.html

http://www.tufts.edu/med/apua/mrsa/mrsa.html

http://tahilla.typepad.com/mrsawatch/ca_mrsa_children_treatment/index.html