Stop Community MRSA Colonization Among Patients

This research is being done to learn more about an approach to remove Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in patients who are carriers of the bacteria in outpatient settings and among their household members and sexual partners. MRSA is a type of bacteria or germ that can cause bad infections of the skin that can make people very sick. The bacteria have been seen in a high number of persons in the Baltimore area and in hospitals throughout the country. MRSA can be spread from person to person, particularly in homes and among family members and sexual partners. There are three things the investigators hope to learn from this research study: First, the investigators want to find a way to prevent MRSA infections in outpatient settings. By asking questions, the investigators want to look at the things that may increase the risk of having this type of bacteria in you and your family members. Second, the investigators have soaps and oral rinses (Chlorhexidine) and medications (antibiotics; Mupirocin ointment) that have been shown to be effective at removing MRSA. The investigators want to determine if these antibiotics and soaps are best used for everyone in the household or only the individual with known MRSA. Third, as the investigators, we want to learn more about the bacteria by looking at it on the inside. The investigators will do laboratory tests on samples we collect, to learn how MRSA bacteria grow, reproduce and how it develops to behave differently than other types of MRSA bacteria.