Recent News and Articles on the Keywords: mrsa + resistant + bacteria  Related to the article below (Last Update: 8/4/2008)

The Germs Are Potent. But So Is a Kiss. New York Times, United States - Like the better-known MRSA, VRE is a so-called multidrug-resistant organism, able to survive an assault from powerful antibiotics. ... Good and bad news about staph infections OCRegister, CA - And, most of these cases in dogs seem to have come after contact with the dog's owner or someone else who has the resistant bacteria. ... New Hope Against Drug Resistant Bacteria Voice of America - Jul 24, 2008 Increasingly, we encounter strains of bacteria like MRSA or multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus that are resistant to multiple antibiotics. ... Navilyst Medical, Boston Scientific Spin-Off, Aiming to Tap Veins ... Xconomy, MA - Anyone who remembers the fearful TV and Internet reports last year of the rise of drug-resistant bacteria, known as MRSA, or C. Diff, for short, ...BSX TANCS Steam Vapor Wipes Out MRSA and VRE PR Web (press release), WA - MRSA and VRE are both antibiotic resistant, opportunistic pathogens that can be transmitted from one person to the next by contaminated surfaces. ... Zapping microbes with lasers and enzymes MSNBC - Jul 28, 2008 By Bryn Nelson Researchers fighting the rise of drug-resistant bacteria have found a new guiding light and tapped into the cleansing power of a good cry. ... Hospital hit by new bug Coff's Coast Advocate, Australia - "VRE is the MRSA of this century," Dr Kramer said. "You can't keep the bug out. It's a function of the busyness of the hospital. "There have been patients ... Shape Magazine 3 Simple Ways to Protect Yourself from "Superbugs" Shape Magazine - by Jenna Autuori By now, you've read more than a few scary headlines about MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). These bacteria, which begin ... Researchers Analyze How New Anti-MRSA Antibiotics Function Science Daily (press release) - Jul 28, 2008 "However, there are cases of resistance to all eight major existing classes of antibiotics. Actually resistant bacteria are often resistant to multiple ... Antibiotic-resistant infections challenge Beaufort Memorial Hospital Beaufort Gazette, SC - Aug 2, 2008 This year, it's up to three or four per month, primarily methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA; vanocomycin-resistant Enterococci, or VRE; ...

How to reduce your risk of catching MRSA

MRSA is a super bacteria that can cause serious infections which are resistant to antibiotic treatments.

The superbug is particularly prevalent in hospitals because patients often have an entry point for the bacteria to get into their body, such as a surgical wound, a catheter, or an intravenous tube. Patients are also more likely to have weakened immune systems.

MRSA bacteria (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is spread through person-to-person contact as well as through towels, clothes and other objects used by someone with MRSA. It can also survive on objects or surfaces such as door handles, sinks, floors and cleaning equipment.

Hospital staff who come into contact with patients should maintain high standards of hygiene and take extra care when treating patients with MRSA to help prevent the bacteria from spreading.

However, there are actions you can take to reduce your risk of becoming infected if you are going into hospital:

What you can do

• Keep your hands and body clean. Shower as frequently as you can. Take soap, a flannel and moist hand-wipes with you, as well as your own razor. Always wash your hands before and after eating a meal and after using the toilet.

• NHS Direct says you should not be afraid to ask the doctor or nurse treating you and your visitors if they have washed their hands.

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• Do not touch any damaged skin or surgical wounds that you have.

• Keep the space around you tidy and uncluttered so that the cleaning staff can access all surfaces to remove dust easily. Ask your vistors to help.

• Make sure your bed area is regularly cleaned and report any unclean toilet or bathroom facilities to hospital staff.

• Keep an eye on minor skin problems like spots, cuts or burns. If you have a wound that becomes infected you should see your doctor. The earlier the superbug is diagnosed the more treatable it is.

How visitors can help

• Ask relatives and friends not to come in large groups.

• Ask your visitors to wash and dry their hands thoroughly before and after entering your ward and ask them not to sit on your bed.

• Request relatives and friends to wear clean clothes and to change them when they get home.

• If you are worried about any infection control risks ask to speak to a member of the infection control team at your hospital.

For more information:

Visit the Health Protection Agency website at www.hpa.org.uk