Researchers Find New, Deadlier Strain of MRSA ‘Super Bug’ Infection
There is bad news today in the battle against MRSA, the deadly drug-resistant strain of staph infection that has spread from hospitals into other public areas.
Medical researchers say they have identified a new strain of the infection that is five times more deadly than previously known strains. The new strain, called USA600, may also be at least partially immune to vancomycin, an antibiotic drug that is widely used to treat MRSA infections, researchers said, according to a HealthDay news report.
“While many MRSA strains are associated with poor outcomes, the USA600 strain has shown to be more lethal and cause high mortality rates,” said Dr. Carol Moore, the study’s lead author.
Study Finds 50% Fatality Rate From New MRSA Strain
The study led by the Henry Ford Health System found that half of patients infected with the particular strain of MRSA died within a month of contracting it. That is alarming because usually only 10 to 30 percent of people who acquire MRSA infections in the bloodstream die within a month, according to the study.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA for short, most often causes infections of the skin and bloodstream. The most serious cases of the infection can lead to deadly pneumonia and other severe health complications.
In most cases, the infection is spread from person to person through unsanitary conditions in hospitals, schools, and other public areas.
MRSA Spreading Outside Hospitals
For years, MRSA was found almost exclusively in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and other healthcare settings. However, more recently, it has spread to other areas. MRSA outbreaks have been reported in schools, gyms, locker rooms, daycare centers, jails, military barracks, and other places where many people are living or congregating together in close quarters.
Also, MRSA has been found to be spread on dirty medical imaging equipment, stethoscopes used by paramedics, and even licks and kisses from the family pet.
The USA600 strain may be unique, but researchers said other factors, such as the age of the infected patients, may play a role in how deadly it is. The average age of those in the study who contracted the new, deadlier strain of MRSA was 64, compared to 52 years old for MRSA.
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I’ve tried for over five long years now to get answers concerning hospital infection being spread into our communities; health care, health departments, health regulators and politicians are really good at giving you an excuse, pointing you in a different direction or no reply at all, which is a good thing because when you have a concern for the health of your community, children and innocent people who are dying because no one will do anything, there is no responsibility, just more statistics . I have asked about every board and agency, politicial official and myself – how many more innocent people and children have to die before getting an answer to a question asked in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 ? How many more deaths could have been prevented ? http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 As a former embalmer and witnessing the AIDS epidemic three decades ago I can tell you we have to begin today to stop MRSA from being a pandemic. The very health care system we trust, who advertise their quality health care that is true in some cases but I know what is on pubic record showing their actual “acceptable standards of your and your families health care”, which is nothing like any of their ads I’ve seen. Hospitals are breeding MRSA ( methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureaus ) and dumping it into our communites, it’s time for our Governor’s, Congressmen, Senators, local Chamber of Commerce, Mayors and Supervisors, health boards and departments etc, to start listening and get to talking about a solution to address MRSA before the next infection (instead of the next election ) takes over, it’s called VRE Vasomyacin Resistant Entercocci rearing it’s ugly head already. It may take another five years of questioning people not doing their job (unless they are being paid to avoid you), I am determined to do all I can to turn back the disease and lethal bacteria killing otherwise healthy folks and it has to start in the health care scam we call the best health care system in the world so badly broken in America.