Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is a germ that naturally lives on healthy people and occasionally causes infection. When Staphylococcus aureus develops resistance to certain antibiotics, it is called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). People may carry MRSA without showing any symptoms.

How Does MRSA Spread?

MRSA is spread from one person to another by contact, usually on the hands of healthcare providers or by contact with articles contaminated by the skin of a person with MRSA, such as towels, sheets and wound dressings. MRSA can live on hands and objects in the environment.

How Can MRSA Be Prevented?

Regular hand hygiene is the most effective way of preventing the transmission of any healthcare associated infection (HAI). For more information, please review our hand hygiene page.

For more information on MRSA and how Runnymede controls the spread of this infection, please refer to our MRSA Brochure.

MRSA surveillance is ongoing at all Ontario hospitals and is reported to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

MRSA Blood Stream Infection Rates Per 1,000 Patient Days

2024
MonthNumber of new hospital
acquired cases		Rates per 1,000 patient days
JAN<50
FEB<50
MAR<50
APR<50
MAY<50
JUN<50
JUL<50
AUG<50
SEP<50
OCT<50
NOV
DEC
2023
MonthNumber of new hospital
acquired cases		Rates per 1,000 patient days
JAN<50
FEB<50
MAR<50
APR<50
MAY<50
JUN<50
JUL<50
AUG<50
SEP<50
OCT<50
NOV<50
DEC<50
2022
MonthNumber of new hospital
acquired cases		Rates per 1,000 patient days
JAN<50
FEB<50
MAR<50
APR<50
MAY<50
JUN<50
JUL<50
AUG<50
SEP<50
OCT<50
NOV<50
DEC<50
2021
MonthNumber of new hospital
acquired cases		Rates per 1,000 patient days
JAN<50
FEB<50
MAR<50
APR<50
MAY<50
JUN<50
JUL<50
AUG<50
SEP<50
OCT<50
NOV<50
DEC<50
2020
MonthNumber of new hospital
acquired cases		Rates per 1,000 patient days
JAN<50
FEB<50
MAR<50
APR<50
MAY<50
JUN<50
JUL<50
AUG<50
SEP<50
OCT<50
NOV<50
DEC<50
2019
MonthNumber of new hospital
acquired cases		Rates per 1,000 patient days
JAN<50
FEB<50
MAR<50
APR<50
MAY<50
JUN<50
JUL<50
AUG<50
SEP<50
OCT<50
NOV<50
DEC<50

For more information about how our rates are calculated or to find out more about MRSA, please contact our infection prevention and control practitioner at 416-762-7316, ext. 2238.