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Scientists warn of fatal superbug epidemic, Community-acquired MRSA (staph)

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sapphyre

Posted: Sep 8 2008, 03:12 AM

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QUOTE

AUSTRALIA is facing an epidemic of a drug-resistant superbug that attacks healthy teenagers and can be fatal, leading scientists have warned.

A summit of 350 international microbiologists will converge on Cairns today to discuss the global health threat posed by resistant staphylococcal infections � also known as MRSA superbugs.

Of particular concern is a new virulent form of the flesh-eating bug that can lead to a severe form of pneumonia that causes death in up to 50% of cases. Unlike hospital-acquired MRSA, which affects mostly elderly patients, the community strain of the bug carries far more toxic genes and can be picked up in communal settings.

Similar bugs in the US have led to the deaths of several teenagers and schools being shut and disinfected.

Experts at the conference say the bug is on the rise in Australia and patients are presenting to emergency departments with infected boils that can lead to abscesses and gaping wounds.

Associate Professor Keryn Christiansen, director of microbiology at Royal Perth Hospital and co-ordinator of the conference, said antibiotics seemed to have no effect. "We're looking at a major epidemic. These are much more virulent strains of these bugs � We're seeing more people coming to our emergency departments, more people admitted with more severe infections and we're seeing people die. It's happening right across Australia," she said.

While strict hand-washing policies have helped to reduce the number of hospital-acquired MRSA cases, infection still occurs in Victoria.

Professor Christiansen said an outbreak of the new community-acquired version combined with the hospital variety could be catastrophic.

Potential strategies to fight the bug include a "search and destroy" policy as adopted in Western Australia where every case of MRSA must be reported to the state's health department.

Scientists then screen people who have had contact with the infected patient and attempt to eradicate the bug. Experts at the summit will also call for better monitoring of superbugs and Federal Government funding to educate GPs on spotting them.

The bugs are usually transmitted through contact with an open wound and can be passed from person to person or by making contact with contaminated surfaces.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/scientis...80907-4bi6.html

Aphrodite	Posted: Sep 9 2008, 01:14 PM
Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 307 Member No.: 1 Joined: 25-July 08	I cringe at the way my teens are so 'huggy' with their friends... I can SEE the germs big green and ugly passing between them in my minds eye. Teens are swimming with germs and they love passing them on... arghhh

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