How did we mess up Antibiotics?

How did we mess up Antibiotics?

Warnings about the approaching post-antibiotics apocalypse have been sounding for years. There are now strains of deadly bacteria that are resistant to all antibiotics. This means that doctors are faced with patients who have completely untreatable infections. Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are dying due to antibiotic resistance - and this number is set to rise rapidly. If we carry on like this, scientists predict we will return to a pre-antibiotic era, where organ transplants, chemotherapy and C-sections are impossible. We’ve come a long way since 1928, when the famous chance discovery of penicillin led to a golden age in which antibiotics were seen as wonder drugs, heralding in an age of huge medical advances and increased human life spans. But by the 1990s we were running out of new antibiotics and infections were again a killer. How did this happen?

New Drug-Resistant Bacteria Seen In U.S. For The First Time

New Drug-Resistant Bacteria Seen In U.S. For The First Time

A drug-resistant strain of E.coli bacteria has been found for the first time in the United States.

The bacteria was discovered when a 49-year-old Pennsylvania woman showed up at a local clinic seeking treatment for a urinary tract infection. Samples of the bacteria were sent to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for testing, where it was confirmed that the E. coli carried a resistance gene known as Mcr-1.

UN meeting tackles the 'fundamental threat' of antibiotic-resistant superbugs

UN meeting tackles the 'fundamental threat' of antibiotic-resistant superbugs

The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said antimicrobial resistance is a “fundamental threat” to global health and safety at the first general assembly meeting on drug-resistant bacteria.

It is only the fourth time the general assembly has held a high-level meeting for a health issue.

“If we fail to address this problem quickly and comprehensively, antimicrobial resistance will make providing high-quality universal healthcare coverage more difficult if not impossible,” said Ban. “It will undermine sustainable food production. And it will put the sustainable development goals in jeopardy.”

The Ultimate Battle Against MRSA

The Ultimate Battle Against MRSA

If you are admitted to one of the 320 intensive-care units at HCA Inc.’s hospitals, you will be bathed with germ-killing soap and administered an antibiotic nose ointment twice daily for five days.

HCA, the largest chain of for-profit hospitals in the U.S., has adopted this regimen after studying the best ways to reduce infections due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, or “superbugs” such as MRSA, which can be deadly for patients after surgery or illness.

MRSA infections in NHS on the rise again in 2016

MRSA infections in NHS on the rise again in 2016

The latest figures for MRSA bacterial blood infections, published on July 7 by Public Health England (PHE) and covering infection in NHS England, have shown a worrying rise with some 819 infections reported in the year 2015/2016, representing a 2.4% increase over last year. 

At the same time, the less reported, but more common and life-threatening MSSA bacterial blood infection rate has continued to be ignored and has been allowed to progressively escalate.

Michiana YMCA alerts public about MRSA cases

Michiana YMCA alerts public about MRSA cases

SOUTH BEND — The Michiana Family YMCA is alerting the public that a staff member, as well as a child attending its Child Watch service, has contracted Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, more commonly known as MRSA.

What Is MRSA? Study Finds Why Influenza Patients Die After Secondary Infection With Drug-Resistant ‘Superbug’

What Is MRSA? Study Finds Why Influenza Patients Die After Secondary Infection With Drug-Resistant ‘Superbug’

A new study finds that secondary infection with the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacterium or "superbug" often kills patients suffering from influenza because the flu virus alters the antibacterial response of white blood cells. The study published online Monday, further states that that the antibacterial response of white blood cells leads to damaging the patients' lungs instead of destroying the bacterium.

MRSA No Longer Only Found in Hospitals

MRSA No Longer Only Found in Hospitals

A USA TODAY investigation shows MRSA bacteria, once confined to hospitals, are emerging in communities to strike an increasing number of children, as well as schools, prisons, even NFL locker rooms.

Star Athletes tackle Staph Infections

THE DAY BEFORE the Celtics opened training camp, a nurse peered up at Shaq and delicately swirled a cotton swab inside each of his ample nostrils. The purpose was to determine the threat he posed to his new club. You'd think the team would have sussed that out before signing the 18-year vet, but this mission wasn't about the possibility of the NBA's oldest and beefiest jester undermining the game plan or locker room chemistry. No, this was about Shaq infecting the Celtics literally, with an invisible intruder that could turn Delonte West's big toe into a pus-filled plum or Paul Pierce's middle finger into an inflamed sausage or his elbow into an angry grapefruit.