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 which time the pathogen has gained resistance to all staphylococcal antibiotics including vancomycin. Unexpectedly, the epidemiology of MRSA changed with the millennium and this hospital restricted pathogen has now aggressively spread in the community. Newly evolved MRSA strains have been reported in Australia, Europe, and across the United States and on each continent a predominant clone has emerged. The U.S. has observed the remarkable transmission of USA300, a clone that has caused an inordinate number of soft tissue infections in healthy pediatric and adult populations. Common among these clones is the presence of the Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) and this association has been linked to virulence. In this lecture the molecular epidemiology of community acquired MRSA studies in NJ and NYC will be presented and the role of PVL will be discussed.
If you are in the city, the talk will commence at 6:30 pm and is located at the New York Academy of Sciences, 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich St, 40th Floor. NYAS members are free, non members pay $20. RSVP at the NYAS web site.
CA MRSA, Education, HA MRSA, MRSA, New York .gif)
1 response so far ↓
sistersmith // Dec 31, 2006 at 9:05 pm
My son recently had a round with MRSA. I had no idea what we were dealing with. The doctor was not explicit enough and not agressive enough in explaining this vicious bacteria. Dumb me, I thought that if we did all the things she said and took all the meds, it would be gone. HA! Ten days after diagnosis, I was rushing him to the ER. Unfortunately, my child, (not so child, he’s 16) has acute excema and is highly susceptible to any germ that comes near him. This stuff just took one sniff at him and galloped on in. It’s been 3 weeks since the ER and I still have nightmares about relapses. I felt very helpless when he reached the point where he had extreme joint and muscle pains. Not realizing what was happening then, I now know I should have taken him to the ER as soon as I heard MRSA. I hope someone takes note of this and I hope this keeps another mom from being too trusting of any doctor when it comes to this MRSA.
Leave a Comment