Bacteria resistant to antibiotics

Staphylococcus aureus

According to an article in Governing.com by Zach Patton Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is a strain of staph bacteria that, in only a few decades, has become resistant to the antibiotics that once were counted on to destroy it. And it's on the rise.

Thirty-five years ago, only 2% of staph infections were resistant to methicillin. Today, that figure is 63%. In some places, the number is even higher. In some locations, has been responsible for as many as 74% of skin infections treated in emergency rooms. MRSA and other antibiotic-immune bacteria are an increasingly familiar topic in the public health arena, and they should be. They threaten to become immune to every known antibacterial drug. They cost billions of dollars a year to treat.

Staphylococcus aureus

 

Thirty-five years ago, only 2% of staph infections were resistant to methicillin. Today, that figure is 63%. In some places, the number is even higher. In some locations, has been responsible for as many as 74% of skin infections treated in emergency rooms. MRSA and other antibiotic-immune bacteria are an increasingly familiar topic in the public health arena, and they should be. They threaten to become immune to every known antibacterial drug. They cost billions of dollars a year to treat.

Several states and a few localities have programs aimed at reducing infection rates both in health care facilities and in the community at large. But those efforts have so far been unable to stem the tide of the so-called "superbugs." States are making some efforts to curb infection rates. In the past three years, 16 states have passed legislation to require public reporting of hospital infection data. Fourteen of those will publish numbers for each hospital in the state.

In November, Pennsylvania released the nation's first report on infection rates on a hospital-by-hospital basis, and Florida and Missouri have since produced similar reports. Right now, infection disclosure bills are being considered in 14 states. Although none of these bills is aimed specifically at drug-resistant diseases, disclosing - and reducing - hospital-acquired infections of all kinds would curb the spread of antimicrobial resistance.