Foogle Business - What is MRSA - Information and Facts on Superbugs - Methicillin Resistant Bacteria

MRSA - Hyperbug

Staphylococcus Aureus

MRSA - Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Last-Modified: 05/03/06 09:24 Non - Profit Information Base

Said to be the best site that explains MRSA

What is MRSA ?

Staphylococcus - Once MRSA was just a simple germ
Staphylococcus - A genus of spherical bacteria of the family Micrococcaceae, is the best known species of which are universally present in very great numbers, on the mucous membranes and skin of humans, and some other warm-blooded animals. The term staphylococcus, generally used for all the species, refers to the cell's habit of assembling in grapelike clusters. Staph, is a commonly used slang name for this bug.

COPYRIGHT - Dennis Kunkel Microscopy, Inc.
Staphylococci are microbiologically characterized as gram-positive - in young cultures, and non-spore-forming, non-motile, facultative anaerobes - not requiring oxygen.
The cells average 1 μm - micrometer; 1 μm = 0.00l mm, in diameter and are usually clustered.
Micrometer - also called Micron, metric unit of measure for length equal to 0.00l mm, or about 0.000039 inch. Its symbol is μm, or one millionth of a meter. The micrometer is commonly employed to measure the thickness or diameter of microscopic objects, such as microorganisms and colloidal particles. Minute distances, as, for example, the wavelengths of infrared radiation, are also given in micrometers.
Significant to humans, are two variants of the species Staphylococcus. Aureus, an important agent of wound infections, boils, pustules, and other human skin infections, and one of the most common causes of food poisoning. Staphylococcus. Aureus, also causes udder inflammation, or mastitis, in domestic animals and breast infections in women.

It has become a difficult hospital pathogen because of its resistance to antibiotics. Staphylococcus. Aureus epidermis is a milder pathogen that is opportunistic in persons with lowered resistance. Many strains of Staphylococcus Aureus are now resistant to penicillin. This is because Staphylococcus Aureus has evolved or mutated, simply by accident, to make a substance called ß-lactamase - pronounced beta-lactamase, that degrades penicillin, destroying its antibacterial activity. Tests done on any Staphylococcus Aureus grown from such specimens can then decide how sensitive the organisms is to antibiotics and if it is a Methicillin resistant (MRSA) organism. These test usually take 2-3 days.

Bactericidal - Bactericides - Capable of killing bacteria. Common bactericides are some antibiotics, antiseptics, and disinfectants. many cleaning products are sold, that claim or state to kill all or 99% of all known germs. There are many antibiotics, antiseptics, and disinfectants that will readily kill bacteria, but may also kill or damage the host you wish to cure. Bleach will kill 99.9% of all known micro-organisms but will also kill any person who hosts the germs, you want to attack.

Vancomycin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

June 1997

The recently publicized finding of a strain of Staphylococcus Aureus showing resistance, or reduced susceptibility, to Vancomycin has caused considerable concern, especially since the low level of the resistance means that such strains may be missed in routine laboratory anti-microbial susceptibility tests. Dr Keiichi Hiramatsu of Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan, who described the characteristics of the Vancomycin-resistant strain, has provided a summary and a provisional method for detection available on EMC's web site for Anti-microbial Resistance. An account of his findings will be published in Journal of Anti-microbial Chemotherapy in July 1997.

What is MRSA ?

MRSA, or Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, is a the name of a group of bacteria that produce a type of infection, usually caused by the common bacteria Staphylococcus Aureus. Staphylococcus Aureus, often referred to simply as Staph, are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people, and humankind have been living with this bug for many generations without too many problems.
Methicillin, is a synthetic form of penicillin, which means that the mechanical and molecular structure of penicillin, have been reproduced or replicated, to act just like penicillin, which is grown naturally.
Penicillin is an antibiotic, the first man-made antibiotic, and is derived from the mould, now named Penicillium notatum, or specifically Penicillin G. It belongs to a class of similar substances called Penicillins. They are all active against a wide variety of bacteria, producing their effects by disrupting the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall, and are used to treat a variety of common infections caused by these bacteria.
But now some strains of Staphylococcus Aureus have become resistant to a class of antibiotics frequently used to treat Staph infections, such as Methicillin, and thus are now called Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus or MRSA.
In reality it should be PRSA, as in Penicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, as this would have been much clearer, and more easily understood, to the general public.
SO PLEASE NOTE THAT MRSA IS NOT A DISEASE. IT IS THE NAME OF A BACTERIA THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE AN ANTIBODY THAT CAN KILL IT. IF ALLOWED INTO THE BODY OF A MAMMAL, IT CAN BRING ON MANY PROBLEMS AND CONDITIONS. THESE CONDITIONS HAVE ALTERNATE NAMES AND SOMETIMES MRSA IS NOT EVEN MENTIONED. PREVIOUS TO THE MRSA STRAIN THESE CONDITIONS WERE CLEARED UP QUITE EASILY WITH PENICILLIN ETC. BUT NOT ANYMORE. READ ON!

MRSA - Recently, cases of skin infections and other maladies caused by the Methicillin Resistant bacteria - Staphylococcus Aureus - namely MRSA - have been identified around the world. While most cases have been in hospitals, cases involving people outside of medical care have also occurred. Moreover, cases involving pets are ever on the increase. Skin infections such as abscesses and boils are the most common form of this infection. This type of infected area usually starts out as a small bump resembling a pimple or spider bite, which becomes redder and often develops pus.
But the bacteria can infect anywhere within the body; it is a living thing and lives its life as it has done since the dawn of time. It just needs an appropriate environment and it will multiply exponentially. Wherever it lives, under the skin, in a lung, inside a leg-joint, it will grow and the surrounding area will become inflamed and destroyed, as the the germ eats its way outwards.
Up until recently, this common micro organism, Staphylococcus Aureus, was easily combated, but know it has evolved to become a Superbug, and treatments are diminishing daily.

It has become a difficult hospital pathogen because of its resistance to antibiotics. Staphylococcus. Aureus epidermis is a milder pathogen that is opportunistic in persons with lowered resistance. Many strains of Staphylococcus Aureus are now resistant to penicillin. This is because Staphylococcus Aureus has evolved or mutated, simply by accident, to make a substance called ß-lactamase - pronounced beta-lactamase, that degrades penicillin, destroying its antibacterial activity.

MRSA - The Hyperbug
However, antibiotics, such as Methicillin and Flucloxacillin, are not yet affected by this ß-lactamase and can still be used to treat many infections against ß-lactamase-producing strains of Staphylococcus Aureus.

Unfortunately, certain strains of Staphylococcus Aureus, known as MRSA, which should be referred to as the Hyperbug, have now evolved further, also to become resistant to treatment with Methicillin and Flucloxacillin.

Other types of antibiotics can still be used to treat infections caused by MRSA, but these stronger drugs are usually not available in tablet form and must be administered through a drip inserted into a vein, to get to the very root of the problem.
The information below provides some general information about these types of infections and what people can do to help prevent and control the spread of MRSA in the community setting.

The number of MRSA deaths doubled in four years between 1999 and 2003, official statistics show.
Ministers have set ambitious targets to tackle the problem - and point to a significant drop in infections during 2004, but the Tories say not enough is being done.

How is infection or indeed colonization with MRSA diagnosed?

To identify a MRSA infection, samples of skin, blood, urine, pus, other fluids are taken from the patient. Samples are determined on what area of the body the infection is emanating.

These are then sent to a microbiology laboratory, where any bacteria present in the sample is placed in a Petri dish - a round shallow covered dish used for the culture of bacteria etc.

Culturing is placing the particular specimen into a Petri-dish which has a sterile, sometimes warm sweet medium ideal for it to grow. This process can take several days. A bacteriologist will then examine the results under a microscope.

Bacteriologists are highly trained to successfully identify a myriad of micro-organisms, they are able to pick out particular microscopic organism, e.g. bacteria, protozoa, and viruses, as easily as you could pick out your parents in a line-up.

Colonization with MRSA is detected similarly, using swabs of a person's skin or from the inside of the nose / throat.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MRSA

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Whilst we try to report all the facts as accurately as possible, we will not be made responsible for any mistakes or errors that maybe inadvertently made. See terms of Site.
PLEASE NOTE THAT MRSA IS NOT A DISEASE. IT IS THE NAME OF A BACTERIA THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE AN ANTIBODY THAT CAN KILL IT. IF ALLOWED INTO THE BODY OF A MAMMAL, IT CAN BRING ON MANY PROBLEMS AND CONDITIONS. THESE CONDITIONS HAVE ALTERNATE NAMES AND SOMETIMES MRSA IS NOT EVEN MENTIONED. PREVIOUS TO THE MRSA STRAIN THESE CONDITIONS WERE CLEARED UP QUITE EASILY WITH PENICILLIN ETC. BUT NOT ANYMORE. READ ON!
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BEWARE GRAPHIC PICTURES

Staphylococcus Aureus [SA]
Staphylococcus Aureus, a catalase-positive, gram-positive bacteria; it has been drawn into the many arguments in, HAI , Hospital Acquired Infections, since the 1950s, when the organisms developed a resistance to penicillin.

Even during the times when antibiotics seemed invincible, about half of Staphylococcus Aureus [ Staph ] strains were found to be resistant to penicillin. The organism quickly became resistant to newer and more powerful antibiotics such as tetracycline and the amino glycosides. Staphylococcus Aureus is a member of the family Micrococcaceae which comprises four genera: Micrococcus, Staphylococcus, Planococcus, and Stomatococcus. Staphylococcus are natural habitants of skin and mucous membranes of humans. They are harbored in the nose and other such places on the body. The bacteria can be found throughout the natural world, from dust to door knobs. It has probably lived with, and on, Humans and their ancestors for many thousands of years. Being more resilient, it is common even in the most supposedly cleanest health-care organizations. Most species of Staphylococcus are opportunistic pathogens, Staphylococcus Aureus, however, has been considered a serious bacterial pathogen since it first developed the resistance to penicillin in the 1950s. This has led to greater anti-bacterial soaps, greater awareness of the unseen dangers.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), the Superbug, are a sub-group within a cluster of organisms known as Staphylococcus Aureus. MRSA are characterized thus by their resistance to therapy using regularly used antibiotics. This is generally in contrast to the remainder of the Staphylococcus Aureus group, which are referred to as Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus Aureus (MSSA) .

Patients may sometimes pick up the MRSA germ outside hospital, and bring it in to the hospital. Visitors may well, unknowingly, bring the germ into the hospital. In actual fact ALL Staphylococcus Aureus in hospitals and the like, were originally taken in by a Human carrier. We might consider that a brand new hospital would be MRSA free, until contaminated by some outside source. Consider that there are people walking the streets who may well have indirectly been the reason for a patient's death, and they will never know what they have done.

Both MRSA and MSSA can cause infection and illnesses but many individuals can also carry the organism without being infected by it. An individual, who carries the organism, but is not infected, is said to be a ‘carrier’ or being ‘colonized’. At any one time over 30% of healthy individuals carry Staphylococcus Aureus, including MRSA on their bodies. Predominantly in their noses and also in other orifices; places on the body, like the groin, not necessarily in the body. [See Below ]

So when you next pick your nose, and then scrape off a scab, consider that you might be involuntarily introducing a life threatening disease into your blood system.

Bacteria - A diverse group of ubiquitous microorganisms all of which consist of only a single cell that lacks a distinct nuclear membrane and has a cell wall of a unique composition. Bacteria are usually classified by means of Gram’s stain, whether or not they require oxygen - see aerobic respiration; anaerobic respiration, and on the basis of shape. A bacterial cell may be spherical - see coccus, rodlike - see bacillus, spiral - see spirillum, comma-shaped - see vibrio, corkscrew-shaped - see spirochaete, or filamentous, resembling a fungal cell.
The majority of bacteria range in size from 0.0001 – 0.0005 mm. Many are motile - self-propelled motion, under appropriate circumstances, using their flagella to swim. They also possess an outer slimy capsule, and produce resistant spores - endospores. In general bacteria reproduce only asexually, by simple division of cells, but a few groups undergo a form of sexual reproduction - conjugation. Bacteria are largely responsible for decay and decomposition of organic matter, producing a cycling of such chemicals as carbon (see carbon cycle), oxygen, nitrogen (see nitrogen cycle), and sulphur. A few bacteria obtain their food by means of photosynthesis (including the blue-green algae, now regarded as bacteria), some are saprophytes, and others are parasites, causing disease. The symptoms of bacterial infections are produced by toxins.

Bacteria can do this to your mouth.

Bacteriophage - The Phage - A virus that is parasitic within a bacterium. Each phage is specific for only one type of bacterium. Most phages (virulent phages) infect, quickly multiply within, and destroy (lyse) their host cells. However, some (temperate phages) remain dormant in their hosts after initial infection: their nucleic acid becomes integrated into that of the host and multiplies with it, producing infected daughter cells. Lysis may eventually be triggered by environmental factors Phages are used experimentally to identify bacteria, to control manufacturing processes (such as cheese production) that depend on bacteria, and, because they can alter the genetic make-up of bacterial cells, they are important tools in genetic engineering as cloning vectors.
bacteriostatic Capable of inhibiting or slowing down the growth and reproduction of bacteria. Some antibiotics are bacteriostatic. Compare bactericidal.

Statement from a UK Legal Practice about Compensation.

" Hospitals have a duty to prevent or at least control exposure to hazardous substances including MRSA. Compensation can never replace the loss of health or life of a loved one, but it is one way of delivering justice and prompting change in a system crying out for reform. "

MRSA

BBC NEWS - Friday, 17 September, 1999
"We're not going to see new antibiotics until at least 2007 in any significant numbers," Dr George Post, of SmithKline Beecham, told the Festival of Science in Sheffield.
"So as more and more bugs become resistant to more and more antibiotics, we will have a definite window of vulnerability before the new antibiotics begin to be introduced," the chief scientific officer of the British drugs giant added.
"Superbugs" cause infections untreatable with any existing drugs and have emerged, in part, through the indiscriminate prescribing of antibiotics by doctors. This has given the bacteria more opportunities to evolve and become resistant to the drugs.
Leading drug companies have boosted their budgets to develop new antibiotics but the complexities of bacteria and the time it takes to develop and test new drugs mean it will be years before new antibiotics are on the market.
1999

April 2005 - MRSA is a great worry. We declare on other pages we have, that, through Global Warming etc, most of Humankind will not be here after 2100. I think that perhaps the common germ may beat the effects of Greenhouse Gases to it. It is already among the general populous, very soon it will be a life-threatening problem just scratching yourself.
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MRSA - Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus - Just a small cut or a picked spot can harbor germs that will grow to cause this.

BOILS - Pus is formed by the collection of large numbers of white cells called polymorphonuclear cells in a localized area of the body, in response to the presence of a bacterial infection. These cells break down and release chemicals that kill the bacteria as well as cause enlargement of the blood vessels, which in turn causes an inflammation. This attracts chemically, even more white cells to the immunity struggle. Boils are a good and simple example of this struggle.

What is MRSA ?

Other Factors

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

MRSA - Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus - Just one small cut can let in the germs

Bacteria - a diverse group of ubiquitous micro organisms

MRSA - Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

This website has said for years, that out of all the dilemmas that face Humankind, the one that will definitely get us in the end, is the humble bug - Bacteria - a diverse group of ubiquitous micro organisms, that is our smallest, but potentially our most threatening adversary. They know no bounds and because their breeding-cycle can be measured in minutes, they evolve at an amazing rate. It could be said that they have the potential to evolve and therefore adapt, at a rate 750,000 times greater than our own. It is hard for us to conceive how we can keep pace with them really.

Biological Evolution - is the believed process by which the first and most primitive of living organisms, like the one-celled creature the amoeba, developed into the plants and animal life known today. Until the 18th century it was generally believed that each species of life was separately created by God.

However, the most fitting evolutionary theory was put forward by Charles Darwin and A. R. Wallace in 1858; they proposed that new species arose by a process of natural selection. Later work and advance technology has supported Darwin’s theory, which is now generally accepted.

Evolution - Survival of the fittest - If we believe in evolution, the propensity to survive, we must recognize that most creatures are the progeny of their ancestors. This means that, if we are here now, we must have had a mother and father, who in turn also had parents. Our ancestors then, go back for generations; many generations. Back until the beginning of life itself.

It is said that, in the deconstruction of our DNA, and it is in all Humans, from the Mitochondrial DNA, inherited only from one’s mother, all women can be traced back to one single female who lived around 150,000 years ago.

And all men can be traced back to a single male who lived around 80,000 years ago. What the story is, that brought this about, may one day be told, but not here.

It is said, by some theorists, that the modern dog, Canis Familiaris, sprung from the litter of just one female, who ventured into a human camp around 100,000 years ago.

When talking about insects, fossils tell us that they were living over 100 million years ago. We must recognize that climate and global environment has changed over the millennia, and such variations would have changed the living conditions of many organisms.

Some so bad that many either died out, or changed themselves, to accommodate the new conditions. This being that those among them with a greater propensity to survive any change, lived on.

Using this pattern of events, when we talk of an intelligence in something like bacteria, we must realize it is not like any intelligence we might have.

Bacteria does what it does due to a billion repetitions or changes of certain characteristics, which has allowed it to survive.

Therefore we have MRSA - QED.

© Roy G Symonds BA [Law] 2000 - 2006

And just as they have a multi-myriad collection of species and kinds, we also are just as unique. Every human is unique, made up of a unique group of genes and coding. Therefore every person reacts in a unique way to germs, coughs and diseases. Genes can be described as having, or giving, a propensity, an inclination or tendency to act in a particular way. So some of us will be more resistant, or even extra resilient in germ-warfare, by having a better natural protection. Then, some will not.

This is not only due to our inherited make-up but other factors, such as age and health. In any horrendous and hideous epidemic, there is always 1% that will be naturally immune; Mother Nature's way of continuing her work. Therefore MRSA, will not kill all of us, just 99%.

MRSA - It is down to simple Hygiene. The hygiene rules in hospitals were first discussed and codified over 60 years ago.

MRSA - 2005 - In the last eight years up to 50,000 people have died needlessly due to HAI's, including MRSA. Some reports say that there might now be 50,000 annual deaths due to MRSA.

By some accounts, in the United Kingdom, five thousand plus people, mostly hospital patients, die every year from a MRSA related infection. These are, to the greater extent, unnecessary deaths, as it can be significantly avoided with good house-keeping.

Taking strict regard to sinks, toilets, corridors; in fact any area that can be contaminated from some outside source. Taking strict regard to the quick and efficient disposal of contaminated waste.

MRSA - It is down to simple Hygiene.

Do YOU wash your hands enough? Do you use an antibacterial soap?

Do you wash your hands after going to the toilet? Before you prepare food, or EVEN make a cup of tea?

Are you visiting your relative in hospital, without changing all your clothes?

Without washing your hands?

All patient visitors should be asked politely to shower with a anti-bacterial soap, and scrub their hands and face well, before leaving home.

All patient visitors should be required to attend in clean clothes, worn just for the visit.

All visitors should use alcohol hand-gel before entering the hospital, and then also the ward / patient's room.

We all carry Staph - 30% of us carry MRSA. Hospitals did not create MRSA, it is carried in lik some Trojan virus from outside, by a patient, visitor, doctor, nurse, medical worker; anyone and everyone.

Nurses, doctors and auxiliaries should be totally aware that it is almost definite that they will be carrying either MRSA or some other potentially life-threatening microbe. They must wash their hands and lower arms religiously. Especially in between patients. They should be aware that they must be vigilant to the fact that they will be touching implements, doors, paperwork that will undoubtedly be carrying bacteria.

Has anyone considered that the new trend of doctors, in Britain, not wearing white coats anymore, might be a factor. It would take a brave person to say this has had no detrimental consequence.

MRSA - Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus - Just a small cut or a picked spot can harbor germs that will grow to cause this.

Scratch your face with dirty hands and you are open to infection.

Staphylococcus Aureus is just one germ, but it is all around us and probably has been since the beginning of time, in one form or another. In secret random tests in hospitals, of doors, corridors, elevator buttons, etc, eight samples out of every ten produced evidence of MRSA.

MRSA - The evident way of eliminating MRSA in bedding, towels etc, is to wash at a temperature of 60+ degrees Centigrade, on a long wash. Paranoids can add bleach. Most machines can do this, and combined with the wash powder, this should kill all known germs. Though it will not kill Prions.

Prions - A new kind of infectious agent, just like the virus is, but it is not a living thing as we know it. The Prion is in fact a malformed protein, nevertheless it is responsible for some dreadful brain / nervous system diseases. Unlike the MRSA, that has lineage, the Prion has no genes, no DNA, but is still an organic instrument that can cause fatal diseases. It is basically indestructible and has to be incinerated, before it is deemed safe. It was perhaps produced by some peculiar chemical reaction, that may have given it birth thousands of years ago.

In random tests, not only is it on our skin and clothes, a third of Westerners carry MRSA in their noses, other orifices, and other skin areas. In the many cases that contain the Staphylococcus Aureus that is MRSA, why have these carriers not been affected by this. Well actually the skin, nose, the ear and even the stomach and all the connecting pipe work are actually outside of the body.

MRSA - Nurses should wash hands between 30 - 40 times a shift. Doctors should wash their hands before, after and in between e