methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

noun

: MRSA
The germ is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. People can carry it on their skin or in their noses with no symptoms and still infect others—the reason many hospitals isolate and test new patients to see if they harbor the bug.Marilynn Marcione, The Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican, 28 Oct. 2008

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was in 1966

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Dictionary Entries Near methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

methicillin

methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

methide

Cite this Entry

“Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/methicillin-resistant%20Staphylococcus%20aureus. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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