Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a prevalent infection that is resistant to various antibiotic strains.
Here are seven things to know about MRSA.
1. CDC data finds MRSA causes 8,000 invasive infections annually.
2. Each year, 11,285 people die from MRSA-related infections.
3. MRSA rates decreased 31 percent between 2005 and 2011.
4. Hospital-acquired MRSA infection rates fell 54 in the aforementioned time frame.
5. In February 2017, NASA sent a MRSA sample to space in hopes the medical community can learn more about how superbugs mutate and become antibiotic-resistant. Anita Goel, PhD, lead study researcher, told CNN, "We are excited to put MRSA on the International Space Station and investigate the effects of microgravity on the growth and mutation patterns of these bugs."
6. MRSA cost the U.S. healthcare system $9.7 billion in 2005.
7. A 2011 study found implementing strict infection control protocols lowered VA hospitals' MRSA infection rate in intensive care units by 62 percent over a two and half year period