(CNN) More than 119,000 people were diagnosed with bloodstream Staphylococcus aureus infections in the United States in 2017, and almost 20,000 died -- a significant slowing in the previously declining rates of infections with the bacteria.

From 2005 to 2013, the rates of methicillin-resistant staph aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections diagnosed in hospitals declined on average 17.1% every year. But no significant change in the rates of infection has been observed since, according to the report, released Tuesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

"We think that while individual hospitals, health care facilities, communities, and certainly the VA system may be continuing to make progress, the national plateau that we are seeing probably stems from dropping off in using the intensive [CDC infection control] recommendations," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC.

Staphylococcus aureus, known as staph, is a bacteria commonly found on the skin and in the noses of healthy people. Staph is either methicillin-sensitive staph aureus (MSSA) or methicillin-resistant staph aureus. MSSA bacteria respond to a class of antibiotics known as beta-lactam antibiotics -- including methicillin, penicillin, oxacillin and amoxicillin -- and MRSA bacteria do not. Both MRSA and MSSA can cause skin infections, bloodstream infections, sepsis and even death.

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