FreeImages.com/Chris Greene(CNN) - University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children's Hospital confirmed on Monday 12 cases of a drug-resistant staph infection in its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), according to a statement from the hospital.
MRSA causes staph infections that are resistant to some antibiotics and therefore are difficult to treat.
"UPMC always follows CDC guidelines, and isolation protocols and infection control procedures are in place," the hospital stated.
An estimated 119,247 staph bloodstream infections were seen in 2017, which resulted in 19,832 deaths, according to a recent CDC report.
Certain procedures like surgery or dialysis can also increase a person's risk of developing a MRSA infection.