Exposure to the general public of the lethal super-bug, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is on the rise, and poses a far greater threat than previously envisioned. According to a recent study, published in the journal Emerging Infectious Disease, the bacteria, which is resistant to antibiotics and is easily transmitted through contact, is now being found in a wide range of public spaces, including schools and gyms.

Previously, MRSA exposure was most commonly found in hospitals and nursing homes, or other health care centers, and the people who were the most susceptible included those with weakened immune systems. However, rates of MRSA are rising in healthy people outside of hospitals. This type of infection is referred to as community associated MRSA, or CA-MRSA, and according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), now accounts for as much as 14% of MRSA infections. The recent study supports this increased incidence.

Researchers examined the records of hundreds of microbiology labs throughout the country and discovered that between the years of 1999 and 2006, there was a seven-fold increase in the quantity of “community associated” strains of MRSA detected in outpatient hospital units. This increase represents a greater threat of exposure to patients due to the high volume of traffic between hospital inpatient and outpatient units.

According to the findings, MRSA accounts for more than 50% of all Staphylococcus aureus, or staph, infections. As a percentage of infections among outpatients, MRSA has increased by more than 90%. Most of these infections were due to community based strains, which jumped from 3.6% to 28.2% of all MRSA infections. Because of this, experts have voiced concern that these community based strains are spreading rapidly into hospitals, as well.

MRSA is a bacterial infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The MRSA bacteria is resistant to all forms of penicillin, not just methicillin, which is a version of penicillin that is no longer in widespread use. It can infect different parts of the body is particularly difficult to treat because of its resistance to many common antibiotics.

Symptoms vary according to where it occurs. Though a majority of cases are not serious and cause minor skin infections, it can also lead to more serious problems that can spread to the bloodstream, lungs, or urinary tract. Because of this, MRSA can be life-threatening.

In fact, MRSA kills an estimated 20,000 people in this country every year. Community based strains tend to be less virulent, and because of this, are more treatable with antibiotics, but can still cause illness and are a significant concern.

For now, doctors are stressing the need to quickly identify and treat the strains of MRSA they are seeing. If you have questions or concerns, speak with your physician. For more information, check out the CDC’s website on MRSA.