News tagged with 'MRSA'

Scientists at the University of Washington report, samples of sand and water from five beaches around the Puget Sound have tested positive for a multi-drug resistant form of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Dogs and cats can acquire methicillin resistant staph infections (MRSA) and give it back to humans.   Humans too, can infect their pets.  Normal petting will generally not transmit MRSA, but bites will.

More proof that MRSA, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus – is everywhere.  A Congressional staffer has contracted the superbug bacterial infection, possibly at a House staff gym.  It is currently being disinfected, and InjuryBoard has hosted much discussion on what type of disinfectant works best.   

The rate of dangerous staph infections has dropped dramatically in U.S. hospital intensive-care units, a new report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Prevention finds.

A new study reveals a super bacteria known as MRSA is spreading among children, causing a surge in head and neck infections. MRSA previously had been a major concern in hospitals, attacking patients who are already weakened by disease. But, recent outbreaks in the community, in otherwise healthy kids have raised new concerns.

The Seattle Times finds that no one is tracking the explosion in MRSA rates and there is no consistent policy for screening for the staph infection in hospitals.  Testing and isolation of infected patients and carriers is the only way of containing the infection as well as washing your hands.

The benefits of visiting the gym far outweigh the risk, you just need to use some common-sense and follow a few steps to keep yourself protected from bacteria, infection and fungus that lurks at most gyms - in the showers and on the equipment.

Removing drug-resistant staph from the noses of wrestling camp counselors cut the rate of potentially deadly skin infections by more than 50 percent. Researchers tested coaches' and counselors' noses for MRSA and found about half were carriers. The nose is a place for the bacteria to colonize since it prefers a wet and warm environment.

All of the leading health and hospital organizations are on the same page with this new set of recommendations aimed at reducing 1.7 million incidents of six major hospital infections a year. Washing your hands is still the leading and least expensive measure. Not everyone is doing it.

A new government report found more children have been getting seriously ill from the flu because they also had a staph infection, most commonly (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) MRSA.

MRSA has taken the life of an otherwise healthy 18-year old football player in Orlando. Warning letters are going out to parents not to panic. MRSA frequently responds to other stronger antibiotics, just not methicillin.

C. diff is presenting a series of challenges to hospitals and nursing homes already coping with methicillin-resistant staph. The bacteria loves to thrive after a good dose of antibiotics wipe out the good bacteria in the gut. Avoid hospital settings to avoid contacting the bug.

In an effort to stop the increasing number of antibiotic resistant staph infections, the CDC has launched an educational initiative aimed at parents, schools, the military, anyplace where people are likely to contact others. Doctors see about 12 million skin infections a year. The good news is hand hygiene and covering the wounds are most effective in stopping the spread. 

A new study suggests THC, the main substance found in marijuana, shows promise as an antibacterial agent against microbial strains resistant to treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics like penicillin.

A Swiss study looked at whether pre-testing hospital patients for MRSA and then isolating them would cut down on infection. Surprisingly, that didn't have any impact on the number of MRSA infections which kill about 19,000 annually in the U.S.