What is infection vs. colonization?
An infection means that germs are in or on the body and make you sick, which results in signs and symptoms such as fever, pus from a wound, a high white blood cell count, or pneumonia.
Germs can also be in or on the body, but not make you sick. This is called colonization. People who are colonized will have no signs or symptoms. They feel fine. MRSA can cause infection or colonization.