You likely could not have missed recent news in the mainstream press and gay community about MRSA, specifically the new strain MRSA USA300. In the last couple of weeks, stories have splashed everything from the New York Times to Newsweek about the spread of MRSA among gay men. This new strain of Staphylococcus Aureus is antibiotic resistant, and gay men appear to be some 13 times more likely to be infected with this form of the bacteria in one community in San Francisco.  It is important to note that there are a number of risk factors for infection, including recent hospitalization, sharing towels or athletic equipment, a weakened immune system, or associating with health care workers. MRSA also thrives in close living conditions, and it should be noted that this is true of the community where the initial study occurred. Similar studies of groups in close physical contact, including football players, have shown a higher incidence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. Unfortunately, the early press release brought about not only panic in the gay community, but also a significant amount of anti-gay press.

The official study that caused all this uproar can be found at annals.org. While the study does not jump to any significant conclusions, the media did, ranging from calling MRSA the “new HIV” to linking it with anal intercourse.

What is MRSA? MRSA stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, further clarified as hospital acquired (HA-MRSA) and community acquired (CA-MRSA).  First and foremost, it should be clarified that antibiotic resistant bugs have been around, and are becoming more prevalent in all walks of life, and all communities regardless of sexual orientation. Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacterium that normally lives on the skin and in the nasal passages. This infection can produce symptoms ranging from a simple skin abscess or lesions to cellulitis and even death. While many bacteria produce infections, the primary concern with MRSA is that very few antibiotics are effective, and in the case of new strains even fewer drugs may be available to treat these complex infections. For more information on the specifics about MRSA, see the mayoclinic.com site.

That said, what does this mean for you? What should you be doing to protect yourself? The simple fact is that MRSA can be spread through skin to skin contact of any sort.  Moreover, staph infections of the skin often occur in moist areas, including the buttocks and groin. This is entirely unrelated to actual sexual contact. Prevention is not so hard really. Use good hygiene. Wash your hands regularly. If you do have a skin infection, or a partner does, seek treatment quickly and request that skin lesions be cultured before beginning treatment so they can be treated appropriately.  Really, though, these are not tips relevant to gay men, but to everyone who uses a gym, might have children in daycare, or have lunch with a health care provider.