Relevance of MRSA in the Latino Community

MRSA can affect anyone at anytime, so it's very common to think, "I'll never get MRSA" or that "only dirty people get nasty skin infections." However, it is important to understand the statistics for MRSA.

MRSA affects more elderly people and also affects more men than any other groups. The main reason MRSA affects so many elderly people is that with more time spent in the hospital with a lowered immune system than other groups of people, they are at a higher risk for the HA-MRSA. This is unfortunate because as the Latino population grows older, and continues to grow in size, it is almost inevitable that the elderly Latino population will be disproportionately affected soon. (1)

Also, MRSA affects men more than other groups of people. This is mostly because men who have sex with men are at a higher risk to get MRSA because of the lowered immune system and MRSA's association with HIV/AIDS. Within the Latino community, these statistics partnered with the idea of 'machismo' can come with bad results. This cultural idea that is sometimes used to justify homosexual behavior in married men, can cause devastating effects on others in the community who are in contact with them. It is very important that people in the Latino community understand the risk of MRSA, and how to address it if it ever becomes an issue for them personally. (1)

For more information on what to do if MRSA is affecting you, visit either/both of the Treatments and Prevention pages.