MRSA Notes

The New York Academy of Sciences is presenting a talk by Barry Kreiswirth of PHRI TB Center, Public Health Research Institute, on the changing epidemiology of MRSA. Here is the abstract for the January 17 talk:

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been the most clinically important nosocomial pathogen for the last 45 years; during [...]

It is not necessary, it is a convenience product to use in lieu of handwashing - right? Right.
British Muslims have made the news this week as apparently a few people refused the alcohol-based gels when visiting in the hospital due to religous reasons. There is an interesting and eye opening (to me, at least) post [...]

I swear I already wrote about this, but for the life of me, I cannot find it in my archives here at MRSA Notes. Regardless, it was back in the news last week, so here we go again on a topic that I am not sure how I feel about.
London researchers have gained [...]

The state of Michigan has produced some great materials to help inform their athletes about MRSA and how to prevent it. They have had a significant number of problems with MRSA in their wrestling program, especially, and are working hard to prevent any more:

“What we’ve done at our wrestling rules meeting this season is [...]

This is another good one from The Guardian - they have lots of good MRSA info, I think, because The Guardian thrives on sensationalism and has discovered MRSA to be a good topic. Regardless, check out this article, it answers some general questions about MRSA:

What is MRSA?
How dangerous is MRSA?
What about the new killer [...]

Don’t miss Sarah Boseley’s article at The Guardian about the dangers of hospitals and the bugs that have made their home there. There is nothing that new or life changing in her article, but she reiterates a lot of the stuff I say here every day. And I love that.

But what [...]

The PVL (Panton-Valentine Leukocidin) producing strain of MRSA that is much more common here in the United States has reared its ugly head in the UK Hospitals now, having killed 2 people. In a statement from the Health Protection Agency (HPA), they said:

“PVL-producing strains of MRSA have been seen in the UK before - [...]

In an effort to help prevent the spread of HA-MRSA in the UK, two of the hospitals with the worst infection rates have banned doctors from wearing neckties and superflous accessories, which have been shown to collect bacteria over the course of a days work.

But doctors say the new rules stem from political correctness rather [...]

Don’t miss this Christmas story, from the Pekin, IL Times about one person’s Christmas spirit and how it has this year benefitted a family who has been suffering with MRSA. I am not going to share any of it, so go read it for yourself. Go!
Bless their hearts - all of [...]

Brian Russell, safety for the Cleveland Browns has ended his season with a recurring Staph infection. This is his second occurance of Staph in three months, but he does not have MRSA.

Russell spent his sixth day at the Cleveland Clinic after undergoing another operation. A Browns spokesman confirmed that Russell had staph — [...]

Atlanta’s professional basketball and hockey teams, the Hawks and the Thrashers have taken a proactive stance towards protecting their players from Staph, MRSA and other bacterial infections with the use of the SportsAide antimicrobial system that we have heard about here several times in the past.

Staph infections are a very serious concern for all athletic [...]

Scientists have found another weak spot in the biology of bacteria in the folate production system. Bacteria can produce their own folate, which is crucial in cell division, while humans cannot - so targeting this process in the bacteria should result in a drug that is not harmful to humans, but prevents the reproduction [...]

This is an awesome article about how 13 year old Lynzee Suske narrowly escaped a very bad battle with MRSA due to the technology of telemedicine. It brings to light the importance of hospitals being at the top of their game in the tech department.

On Nov. 28, Lynzee’s doctors set up a teleconferencing [...]

I finally got around to making a poll, so please, help a girl out by answering it. If none of my answers suit you, you can add your own. Here it is as well, nice and convenient:

Are you…

an MRSA patient?

a caregiver to an MRSA patient?

a concerned community member?

a student looking for information?

HAS A [...]

Ok I think I was *the* only one this time who couldn’t get it together enough to submit a theme day post, but please don’t let that keep you from seeing what our brazilliant writers here in the Science & Health Channel have in store for you this month. My friend Ruth, at Eating [...]

There is a story out now in the December 11th issue of Newsweek that has some MRSA activists a little upset. Old Bugs, New Drugs is a general overview of MRSA, Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) and a couple other bacteria currently scourging society.
The complaints are that the article doesn’t properly warn people of the [...]

Staph Attack is a fairly new product on the market, and is a silver-based broad spectrum disinfectant and deodorizer being marketed to hospitals and institutions. Tulsa County Jail is using it:
According to Tulsa County Sheriff, Stanley Glanz, “We have been fighting Staph infections for some time now, and in our best efforts using previous [...]

This article, Pendulum, by Robert Klassen, addresses an aspect of infection control which baffles all of us who have been affected by infection. He offers up some reasoning behind what seems like a cover up by the government, hospitals, the CDC, attorneys who won’t take cases and basically everyone having anything to do with [...]

The UK’s Daily Mail has a helpful list of things you can do to prevent acquiring MRSA if you are going to the hospital. You don’t have to be a patient to get MRSA at the hospital - just keep that in mind.

Shower frequently
Do not be afraid to ask the staff and visitors if [...]

The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) has completed a survey of 1008 men and women regarding their concern for skin infections and flu.
They say that 74% were concerned about hygiene in academic settings, and 84% were concerned about hygiene in their homes. I would love to see the actual survey they conducted, but it is [...]