" Staph Superbug Most Common Cause Of US Skin Infections


It is known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), or the Superbug. It is resistant to most standard antibiotics and is becoming more resistant to newer ones. MRSA is now the most common cause of skin infections in the majority of American cities, says Dr. G Moran, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine. He believes doctors should be giving patients who need antibiotics only those known to effectively combat MRSA. He says things have changed over the last ten years - a different type of bacteria is now the most common cause of infections.

You can read about this in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), August 17 issue.

MRSA used to be known as just the 'Hospital Superbug'. It was found just in hospitals, nursing homes and some other health care facilities. It was very rarely found in the community - what is known as 'community associated infection' with MRSA used to be extremely rare. This is not the case any more. There are more and more cases of MRSA acquired in the community - outside hospitals.

MRSA is not an uncommon bacteria. Apparently about one third of us, and maybe more, carry it around with us in our nose, on our skin and in our throat. Most of the time it is harmless. However, it can occasionally lead to serious and potentially fatal infections. Something as insignificant as a paper-cut can lead to MRSA infection. "

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/49872.php