An infected cut or open sore could be a sign of a serious bacterial infection called MRSA. While many skin infections are mild, MRSA is resistant to a number of antibiotics and can even be fatal if left untreated. You can catch it by touching or brushing against an infected area on someone’s skin.
MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a bacterial infection that is resistant to certain antibiotics. Many people – 25% to 30% in the United States – have Staph (staphylococcal) bacteria on their skin and in their noses. These bacteria are generally harmless, but they sometimes cause infection through breaks in the skin.