MRSA stands for which specific bacterial strain?

MRSA stands for which specific bacterial strain?

• A. MRSA
• B. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
• C. VRE
• D. RBC

Answer: (B)

MRSA stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. This is a strain of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus that has evolved to resist methicillin and related beta-lactam antibiotics, making infections harder to treat with standard drugs. The resistance comes from genetic changes that alter the drug’s target in the bacterial cell. Staph aureus is a common organism found on skin and in the nose, so MRSA can cause a range of infections from skin boils to more serious pneumonia or bloodstream infections. The other terms refer to different things: vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus is a different bacterium with resistance to another antibiotic, and RBC stands for red blood cells, not a bacterial strain.

MRSA stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. This is a strain of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus that has evolved to resist methicillin and related beta-lactam antibiotics, making infections harder to treat with standard drugs. The resistance comes from genetic changes that alter the drug’s target in the bacterial cell. Staph aureus is a common organism found on skin and in the nose, so MRSA can cause a range of infections from skin boils to more serious pneumonia or bloodstream infections. The other terms refer to different things: vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus is a different bacterium with resistance to another antibiotic, and RBC stands for red blood cells, not a bacterial strain.