A woman who robbed a gas station last October using her MRSA infected arm as a weapon was arraigned this week on one count of robbery and one count of theft.

Chesterfieldresident, 32-year-old Caroline Slusher pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to prosecutors, Slusher entered a BP gas station last October and started stuffing candy and gum in bags and in her clothes. When she was confronted by a gas station employee, she held up her Staphylococcus aureus infected arm warning him to stay away and left the store.

Police think Slusher was reselling the gum to other stores getting money for drugs.

Slusher’s bond was set at $25,000. Her next hearing is set for April 7 at 9 a.m.

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium found colonizing (without causing infection) the skin and nose in one quarter to one third of people.

Methicillin –resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a highly resistant type in which beta-lactam antibiotics (penicillins and cephalosporins) are useless in treatment.

What was once restricted to hospital infections, MRSA is becoming increasingly common in community acquired infections.

MRSA is primarily spread person to person via close skin contact, through cuts and abrasions and poor hygiene.