MRSA Infection & Symptoms

USA600 MRSA Strain 5 times more lethal

More at: Highly deadly, antibiotic-resistant MRSA targeting older patients, study finds - McKnight's Long Term Care News.

A tough, virulent strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is five times more deadly than other MRSA strains, and typically affects older patients, according to new findings. While most strains of MRSA hit adults with an average age of 52, this strain, called USA600, tends to infect those around 64 years old, say researchers at the Henry Ford Hospital's division of infectious diseases. At least partially resistant to common antibiotic treatments, USA600 infects the bloodstream. In a study of patients infected with the strain, roughly half died within one month of developing the infection,

Cat owners 8 times more likely to have MRSA in home

More at: Pet Connection Blog » H1N1, cats and keeping the entire family safe.

Foremost among those diseases come from MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), parasites and ringworm. The bacteria MRSA is resistant to many antibiotics. A study found that a full 50% of the houses that researchers inspected had MRSA lurking on kitchen and faucet handles, drains, and on high chairs and trash cans. The common denominator was pet cats. “Cat owners are eight times more likely to have MRSA in their homes,” says Dr. Becker. Moreover, the bacteria was “ping-ponging back and forth between humans and pets.”

Telavancin now available to treat MRSA in the United States

Theravance and Astellas Announce the Commercial Launch of VIBATIV(TM) (telavancin) in the United States.

Theravance, Inc. (NASDAQ: THRX) and Astellas Pharma US, Inc. announced today the commercial launch of VIBATIV(TM) (telavancin) in the United States. On September 11, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved VIBATIV for the treatment of adult patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI) caused by susceptible Gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, both methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) strains. VIBATIV is a bactericidal, once-daily injectable lipoglycopeptide antibiotic discovered by Theravance.

Statins boost infection fightback?

More at: Controversies in Hospital Infection Prevention: Statins and surgical site infections.

A large retrospective cohort study in the October issue of Archives of Surgery demonstrates that preoperative statin use was not associated with a decreased risk of surgical site infections (SSI). Patients were matched on procedure, hospital, and surgeon. However, for the subgroup of patients who did develop a SSI, the risk for death was 17% lower in those on statins.

Hand Hygiene More Important Than Screening in MRSA Fight?

More at: Controversies in Hospital Infection Prevention: No MRSA here!.

This decline in MRSA parallels the fall in our infection rates in general. To what do we attribute all of this? Our belief is that a strong horizontal platform of infection control with non-pathogen specific strategies has led to this success. Probably most important has been our focus on hand hygiene (median ICU rates consistently exceed 90%) and the use of chlorhexidine for patient bathing. Now one could correctly argue that our uncontrolled observations cannot establish causation. However, I think the most important and irrefutable fact is that this fall in infection rates, including those caused by MRSA, cannot be attributed to active surveillance for MRSA, since our NICU is the only ICU in which active surveillance is performed.

Infection Prevention: Book highlights why many strategies needed

More at: Controversies in Hospital Infection Prevention: SuperFreakonomics and the hospital epidemiologist.

By this they mean that the doctor bears little risk personally when he or she is noncompliant with hand hygiene and thus the doctor has little incentive to comply. So far, so good. But then they downplay trying to change behavior in favor of solutions that bypass the need for change in behavior (e.g., antimicrobial impregnated products). I think the answer is both behavior change and non-behavioral solutions are required since there aren't enough of the latter to overcome dirty hands. I was particularly happy that they advised doctors to stop wearing neckties to improve infection control

'Silver bullet' to kill superbug

More at: BBC NEWS | Scotland | Glasgow, Lanarkshire and West | 'Silver bullet' to kill superbug.

New products which use silver to kill the superbug MRSA are to be tested in clinical trials in Scotland next year. Technology company Giltech will test a nasal ointment and body wash in the Ayrshire and Arran health board area. Both contain silver ions which are known to be effective against hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile (C.diff).

Targeted cleaning in hospitals can cut MRSA rates and save money

More at: Targeted cleaning in hospitals can cut MRSA rates and save money | News | Nursing Times.

Just one extra cleaner on a hospital ward can reduce MRSA infections and save tens of thousands of pounds. The year-long study, sponsored by Unison and published in a peer-reviewed journal, found that one extra cleaner, using targeted cleaning methods, had a “measurable effect on the clinical environment”, reduced new MRSA infections and saved the hospital involved £30,000-£70,000.  It found enhanced cleaning led to a 32.5 per cent reduction in microbial contamination at hand touch sites. Cases of MRSA fell in the six months of targeted cleaning on ward A, and then rose again when the cleaner moved to ward B, which in turn saw the number of cases fall.

‘Second skin’ helps burns doctors beat MRSA

‘Second skin’ helps burns doctors beat MRSA | The Sun |News.

BRITISH medics have created a revolutionary "second skin" treatment for wounds and burns - which slashes the risk of MRSA. The simple pad is applied to damaged tissue underneath a thin skin graft. It helps the body to heal - and also wards off superbugs, which are the biggest threat to patients with open wounds. The breakthrough could revolutionise treatment for blaze victims and injured soldiers. Smart Matrix pads bond with injured flesh while "growing" a new layer on top - keeping out bugs.

Early MRSA discharges called for

BBC NEWS | Health | Early MRSA discharges called for.

Hospitals should be discharging MRSA patients early to help ease pressure on intensive care beds as the flu season starts, doctors say. The MRSA Working Group has written to UK hospitals outlining how to ensure enough critical care beds are available this winter. They say as MRSA patients get squeezed into fewer beds by flu patients the number of MRSA cases could rise by 40%.