One of the most common ones is methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) -- a type of staph bacteria that causes skin infections, and which is resistant to many common antibiotics. It’s related to staphylococcus aureus, which is a common bacteria that can be detected in 20 to 30% of healthy people in the general population. MRSA is much less frequent.

While these superbugs need to be taken seriously, there tends to be a bit of overreaction when people don’t understand what these they are, and how they’re spread. Here are four things you should know about MRSA:

1. MRSA is most commonly spread by direct contact with infected or colonized people. It lives on the body surface, such as skin, hands, and the front part of the nostrils). Conditions that facilitate transmission in the community include contact sports and living conditions where people are in close quarters (such as military barracks, college dorm rooms, locker rooms, etc.). Hospitalization also increases the risk of acquiring MRSA, but hospital strains are somewhat different from community strains.
2. Individuals in good health are generally not at risk for MRSA. Most people don’t know when they’ve been exposed to MRSA and many will clear the bacteria spontaneously without disease. Cuts and abrasions can allow bacteria to spread to where they don’t belong. The most commonly occurs in healthy people is skin infections with “boils” or skin abscesses that are often initially mistaken as “spider bites.”
3. Certain groups are at higher risk for MRSA infections. These include individuals who have chronic health conditions (such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, problems with immune systems, etc.), people who have undergone surgery, and people who require prolonged use of venous catheters. These people often have more invasive diseases such as pneumonia and bloodstream infection.
4. The best protection from MRSA is good hygiene. Proper and consistent hand-washing is important to prevent the transfer of bacteria to other parts of the body and to other people. Keep cuts and abrasions clean and covered. Shower immediately after participating in contact sports and don’t share personal care items such as towels, razors, or athletic equipment.