Copyright 2008 Medical News Today Latest MRSA / Drug Resistance News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/mrsa-superbug/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114246.php Tests of antibiotic resistance in cattle have revealed stark variation across thirteen European countries. The results, published today in BioMed Central's open-access journal Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, show that major differences were apparent in the occurrence of resistance between countries and between the different antimicrobial agents tested. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114105.php BD Diagnostics, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), announced the CE marking of the BD GeneOhm(TM) Cdiff molecular assay for the rapid diagnosis of patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). It is the first CDI diagnostic test that offers sensitivity, simplicity and speed in one test procedure. BD has also submitted this assay to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for clearance. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113918.php The problem with antibiotics is that, eventually, bacteria outsmart them and become resistant. But by targeting the gene that confers such resistance, a new drug may be able to finally outwit them. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113824.php Patients harboring methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) for long periods of time continue to be at increased risk of MRSA infection and death, according to a new study in the July 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, currently available online. MRSA is an antibiotic-resistant bacterium that can cause a variety of serious infections. The bacterium most commonly colonizes the nostrils, although it can be found in other body sites. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113710.php SinoFresh HealthCare, Inc. (OTCBB: SFSH), the makers of SinoFresh Nasal Spray, announced the next step in a research and development program expected to lead to a nasal spray product for attacking MRSA -- the so-called "super bug" -- reservoirs in the nasal passage. These nasal reservoirs are believed by public health experts to be a significant source of MRSA infections. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113543.php The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) published the first evidence-based UK guidelines to address the management of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) which is the most common hospital acquired infection in intubated1 patients increasing mortality by up to 75%2. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113508.php Patients enter hospitals every day for a variety of reasons but usually without the thought of developing a new health problem. Yet every year thousands of hospitalized Americans acquire infections during hospital stays, causing risk of complications, prolonged stays and an increased burden on the health-care system. With fast track funding by the U.S. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113442.php A laser-activated antimicrobial offers hope for new treatments of bacterial infections, even those that are resistant to current drugs. Research published today in the open access journal BMC Microbiology describes the use of a dye, indocyanine green, which produces bacteria-killing chemicals when lit by a specific kind of laser light. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113440.php The emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as a major pathogen has led to more complications and longer hospital stays for children with acute bone infections, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report. Acute osteomyelitis, a bone infection that predominantly occurs in children, is usually caused by the staph bacteria. Treatment has traditionally been straightforward because most S. aureus bacteria can be killed with existing antibiotics. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112770.php Arlington Medical Resources (AMR), a provider of premier market intelligence for the pharmaceutical and diagnostic imaging industries, finds that the number of patients treated with an antibiotic associated with a positive culture for MRSA within U.S. acute care hospitals has increased from 2006 to 2007 by 8 percent. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112754.php "The Healthcare Commission have an important role to play in ensuring high standards and we welcomed and cooperated fully with their inspection of both Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals on 5th and 6th June," says Ashford and St. Peter's Chief Executive, Paul Bentley. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112630.php Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly referred to as MRSA, is a type of staph that causes infections resistant to a class of common antibiotics that includes methicillin, penicillin, amoxicillin and oxacillin. While MRSA infections were traditionally associated with extended hospital stays, they are now becoming more common in everyday life. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112579.php A review article authored by a University of Queensland academic has found overcrowding and understaffing in hospitals are two key factors in the transmission of MRSA (Meticillin - Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) infections worldwide. Dr Archie Clements, from the School of Population Health, reported overcrowding and understaffing increased levels of MRSA infections, which lead to increased inpatient hospital stay, bed blocking, overcrowding and more MRSA infections. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112442.php Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly referred to as MRSA, is a type of staph that causes infections resistant to a class of common antibiotics that includes methicillin, penicillin, amoxicillin and oxacillin. While MRSA infections were traditionally associated with extended hospital stays, they are now becoming more common in everyday life. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112214.php A review published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases finds that the inability to control the meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, or "super-bug") is partly due to hospital overcrowding and understaffing. Dr. Archie Clements (School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Australia) and colleagues argue that a vicious cycle continues with increased inpatient hospital stays, bed-blocking, and further failure to control the infection. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112069.php Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX) announced positive results from two globally conducted, multi-center Phase III studies of ceftaroline, a broad-spectrum cephalosporin with activity against gram-positive bacteria, such as MRSA and gram negative bacteria, for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI). Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111704.php Superbugs -- bacteria that are resistant to many commonly used antibiotics -- can seem scary. Antibiotic resistance means illnesses last longer, and the risk of complications and death increases. Many factors have contributed to the emergence of superbugs, including overuse and misuse of antibiotics. One superbug, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), has been a problem in health care settings for years. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111690.php More than three out of four (76%) infection prevention and control professionals (ICPs) polled indicated they have implemented additional measures to prevent the transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the last year, but 54% said their institutions are not Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111672.php Derma Sciences (OTC Bulletin Board: DSCI), a provider of advanced wound care products, announced that its key product, MEDIHONEY(TM) Wound & Burn Dressing with Active Leptospermum Honey, has been found in a large randomized controlled clinical trial to significantly reduce the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in chronic wounds. The finding was published in the June 2008 issue of The Journal of Wound Care. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111468.php Commenting on the Healthcare Commission's public warning over failures in hospital hygiene, Karen Jennings, UNISON Head of Health, said: "The Healthcare Commission's Report into hygiene should ring alarm bells in many hospital corridors. Going into hospital is distressing enough for patients without the added fear of contracting infections such as MRSA or C Difficile. More must be done to restore public confidence into hygiene standards. Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/110908.php With beach-season looming, the fitness bug is motivating Chicagoans to fill area gyms in droves, all hoping to buff up before the warm-weather season of fun gets into full swing. People who workout at gyms should know that the effort to get the perfect physique comes with the heightened risk of contracting community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the potentially deadly superbug known as MRSA, said Dr. Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/110386.php Procarta Biosystems, the company spun-out of the John Innes Centre in 2007 to develop a technology designed to defeat antibiotic-resistant superbugs, has received significant seed funding. The Rainbow Seed Fund and the Iceni Seedcorn Fund will enable Procarta to further develop its DNA decoy technique, which aims to restore antibiotic efficacy against resistant superbugs, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/110119.php A new protein has been identified that promotes the development of antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter bacteria, the most commonly recognized source of food poisoning, according to a study released on June 5, 2008 in the open access journal PLoS Pathogens. Campylobacter jejuni is the most common foodbourne bacterial pathogen in humans, and it is present even in developed countries. Thu, 05 Jun 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/109924.php Immunetics, Inc. (Boston, MA) has received two new grants totaling $1.2 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Advanced Technology program. The grants will support development of tests for antibiotic resistance in bacteria and for the parasitic agent of Chagas' disease, both emerging public health threats. Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/109900.php A new study by a team of researchers at the Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, Wales, UK, has found that antimicrobial-containing wipes currently used to decontaminate surfaces in hospitals can spread pathogens after first use. The research highlights concerns as to the suitability of the wipes currently being deployed and the importance of a routine surveillance program in reducing risks of infection to patients. The research, conducted by Dr.