Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus - the so-called superbug. Methicillin is an antibiotic of the penicillin family, which used to be effective against all staphylococcus aureus. The emergence of MRSA, which can be fatal in hospital patients who are undergoing surgery or who are weakened by other disease processes, is possibly due to the over-use of antibiotics - including methicillin. Germs develop resistance by a number of different mechanisms, one of which arises as a result of natural selection: if all the susceptible bacteria have been destroyed by an antibiotic, those that are resistant to it will multiply more rapidly. MRSA can be eradicated, using other antibiotics, though these are not without their own disadvantages. Cross-infection between patients in hospital is a common occurrence, which might be reduced by increased attention to infection control them (having the staff and visitors wash their hands before and after touching the patient might help).
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