(August 10, 2009 - Insidermedicine) Individuals who are discharged from hospital frequently carry methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, into their homes, according to research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Here is some information on MRSA:

•    It is a type of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that is commonly found in hospitals worldwide

•    It is being found increasingly outside of hospitals, in the community

•    MRSA infections are difficult to treat and can be quite serious

Researchers from Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital in Paris tested over 1,500 patients for MRSA right before they were discharged from hospital. Among those who tested positive, the researchers kept track of who cleared the organism within a year and who passed it on to others.

Overall, nearly 13% were carriers of MRSA when they left the hospital. About half were clear of the organism within a year. Among nearly 200 members of the patients' households who were tested, nearly 20% were found to have acquired MRSA. Older individuals and those who cared for the patients were more likely to acquire the organism.

Today's research demonstrates how easily hospital superbugs can pass from the hospital into the home and emphasizes that caregivers of former hospital patients should adopt infection control measures.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.