What is the Mercer infection?

Mercer infection is a colloquial term for MRSA, which stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, according to Staph Infection Resources. This staph bacteria, which has become resistant to antibiotics, making it harder to treat, initially causes pimple- or boil-type lesions on the skin that can turn into painful abscesses.

The Mayo Clinic warns that since MRSA is so resistant to most common antibiotics, it can cause serious complications and death if the infection spreads; however, some antibiotics are effective against MRSA. In addition, there are other treatments, such as draining a MRSA abscess, that do not expose the bacteria to more drugs to which they may become resistant as well.