Final answer:
MRSA is a dangerous bacterial strain resistant to many standard antibiotics, which can cause a range of infections. It has arisen due to the misuse of antibiotics and poses a significant challenge in treating infections in hospital and community settings.
Step-by-step explanation:
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a strain of Staphylococcus aureus that's resistant to a swath of commonly used antibiotics, such as methicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin, and oxacillin. The resistance is largely due to the acquisition of a new penicillin-binding protein that reduces the efficacy of ß-lactam antibiotics, which includes nearly all penicillin derivatives. MRSA infections can range from mild skin conditions to more serious infections such as pneumonia or bloodstream infections. It can cause infections of the skin, as well as bloodstream, lung, urinary tract, and wound infections. MRSA is a concern in healthcare settings (HA-MRSA) as well as in the general community (CA-MRSA).
The emergence of MRSA is a direct consequence of the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. As a result, MRSA has become a significant challenge in both healthcare settings, known as hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA), and in community environments, known as community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). While S. aureus commonly resides in the nasal microbiota of many individuals without causing disease, MRSA poses a heightened risk due to its resistance profile making treatment of infections tricky.