MRSA (Mersa) Questions

Hospitals want acinetobactor guidance

Link: Bexley Times.

TRACES of a bug that is becoming resistant to common antibiotics have been found at Queen Mary's Hospital. The Sidcup hospital has seen a small number of "acinetobacter" cases. It is not a new bug, but experts are worried because of its resistance to common antibiotics. A spokesman for the hospital, in Frognal Avenue, said: "We have received guidance from the Health Protection Agency on how to contain the infection and have implemented any of its recommendations which were not already in place.

New bug 100 times more deadly than MRSA

Link: Gulf Times Newspaper

An urgent new warning was issued yesterday over a deadly new bacterium linked to the deaths of 39 patients in a London hospital. St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington confirmed that more than 100 patients have been infected with acinetobacter since October, and that 39 of those patients had died. “This infection would have undoubtedly sped up their death, and could easily spread very quickly within wards,” said hospital infections expert Dr Mark Enright of Bath University. “This bacteria is 100 times more deadly than MRSA, and is already in every hospital in London.” The bug is already known to be resistant to all antibiotics. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) yesterday recommended isolating victims and possibly closing wards for decontamination. However, Dr Enright said it was unlikely to become as much of a problem as MRSA. “It only attacks the very sick - those in cancer wards and in intensive care, for instance,” he said.

Acinetobacter becoming untreatable

Link: HighWire Press -- Medline Abstract.

Very few of the major antibiotics are now reliably effective for the treatment of severe nosocomial carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter infections. Conclusions: Although antimicrobial resistance appears to be increasing all over Europe, it is difficult to accurately estimate the extent of this emerging problem. One of the main reasons for this can be attributed to the fact that the published susceptibility data are difficult to compare due to the different methods used, population bias, and clonal variation. Increasing antimicrobial resistance necessitates a critical appraisal of the remaining antibiotic treatment options. Copyright (c) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Another bug wreaking havoc

Link: Ham and High: Wood and Vale Edition.

TEN patients have been isolated after an outbreak of a deadly new superbug at St Mary's. The death of a further 39 patients since October has been linked to the acinetobacter baumannii bug at the hospital's intensive care and renal wards. Bosses at the hospital have launched an investigation into the bacteria, which is resistant to antibiotics and causes blood poisoning among sick patients. Doctors have stressed that the 39 patients were already ill and may have been carrying the bug rather than dying from it. A spokeswoman for St Mary's said 101 patients had tested positive for the bacteria since October. She said: "The 101 figure represents patients who are carrying the bug, but not necessarily those who are sick because of it.

Hospitals alerted over 'superbug'

Link: BBC NEWS

Hospitals have received guidance on harmful strain of a bacteria that is infecting growing numbers of patients. Acinetobacter is not a new bug - but experts are worried because the bacteria is becoming resistant to common antibiotics. It is found in water, soil and sewage and is typically harmless in healthy people but can be dangerous in people already weakened by illness. The Health Protection Agency advice includes isolating infected patients. Intensive care In some circumstances, it might be necessary to close infected hospital wards for decontamination, it said.

acinetobacter linked to 39 deaths

Link: ThisisLondon.

An investigation is under way into a deadly new bacterium linked to the deaths of 39 patients at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington. Called acinetobacter, it is resistant to antibiotics and is tougher to treat than MRSA. The Health Protection Agency (HPA), which monitors infections, recommends isolating victims and possibly closing wards for decontamination. The bacterium is found in water, soil and on mobile phones. Although it has been linked to BSE, it normally causes no problems. But if it gets into the bodies of the sick, it can cause pneumonia as well as skin and bloodstream infections. At St Mary's there have been 101 cases since October and 39 people have been recorded as having the bug at the time of death. Doctors stress