Your child has an infection of their skin. The infection is caused by a bacteria (germ) commonly known as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). MRSA is a type of bacteria that doesn't respond to the antibiotics usually used to treat staphylococcal infections. This can make MRSA (MUR-suh) infections harder to treat, but most will heal quickly with proper care.

MRSA infections are contagious and can spread easily among those in close contact. Here's how to care for your child and prevent the spread of MRSA.

Follow your health care provider's recommendations for:

• Taking antibiotics if they were prescribed. Make sure your child takes every dose to completely treat the infection, even if symptoms go away before the medicine is finished.
• Cleaning the area.
• Soaking the area or using warm compresses.
• Keeping the area covered with clean, dry bandages.
• Giving medicines for pain, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol® or a store brand) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand). Follow the package directions for how much to give and how often. Do not give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months old.
• Scheduling any follow-up visits to make sure the infection is healing.

To help prevent the spread of MRSA from the infection:

• Watch carefully for signs of infection in others in your household. These symptoms can include redness, swelling, or pain on affected areas of skin. The infection also might ooze fluid or pus.
• Remind your child not to touch or pick at the infected area.
• Wear gloves or wash your hands before and after caring for the infection area.
• Keep the area covered with a clean, dry bandage.
• Have your child and others in your household wash their hands well and often with soap and water and scrub for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, they can use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid sharing items that have touched the infected area, such as towels, clothing, bedding, bar soaps, and razors.
• Keep your child out of activities with skin-to-skin contact (such as sports) with other people until the area is healed.

• The symptoms don't improve within 48 hours or they start to get worse.
• Your child gets a fever or other new symptoms.

• Your child has increasing or severe pain in the infected area.
• The skin gets redder or the infected area gets larger.

How do MRSA skin infections happen? Staph bacteria, including MRSA, often live on skin or in the nose without causing any problems. Infections can happen if the bacteria enter the body through a wound, insect bite, or other area of broken skin. Sometimes, an infection can happen even when there isn't a break in the skin. Infections are also more likely if a child was in close contact with another person who has MRSA.

Can my child go to school or daycare? Your child can go to school or daycare if you keep the area covered with a clean, dry bandage. If you are not able to keep the area covered, ask your health care provider when your child can go back to school or daycare. This is usually when the area stops draining fluid.

How do bacteria like MRSA become resistant to antibiotics? Bacteria become resistant to antibiotics when the medicines are not used properly. This happens when people:

• Take antibiotics for things they can't cure, like viruses.
• Don't take all the medicine that was prescribed.
• Take medicine that was prescribed for someone else.

Taking antibiotics exactly as prescribed can help stop bacteria from becoming resistant.