MRSA Cases in California Skyrocket.
Cases of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections (MRSA) increased four-fold in California hospitals between 1999 and 2007 to 52,000 cases, according to a new state report, which also suggests the annual number of MRSA deaths are 3.2 times more than estimates for seasonal influenza. The report was issued by the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development using hospital patient discharge data. The largest increase in MRSA cases came in young to mid-range adult aged patients, who were admitted from home with infections of the skin. The report said that by patient group, the biggest increase in resistant strains of the bacteria over that eight-year period was attributed to patients admitted to hospitals from prisons or jails, which saw a greater than 2000% increase. Also contributing to the rise was a 540% increase in newborns with resistant strains and a 120% increase in MRSA admissions from long-term care facilities.
