Battling the Superbug
Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
, or MRSA, made frequent headlines as the so-called
"superbug" and put the spotlight on the growing threat
posed by drug-resistant bacteria.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has for
years called antibiotic resistance one of the world's most
pressing health problems. Overuse of antibiotics is a major reason
that bacteria have evolved and developed resistance to drugs. Many
people haven't paid much attention. Until now. The virulent
strain of bacteria that resists many antibiotics has long been a
serious issue in hospital settings, which is still where the vast
majority of cases appear. But when MRSA started showing up more
frequently in the general community it became front-page news. The
infections typically spread by contact with infected skin or
objects and often occur among people prone to scrapes and cuts, as
well as those in crowded living conditions and people with poor
hygiene. Children and athletes across the country were given crash
courses on lowering their risk of contracting MRSA or spreading
it.
What to Watch:
The push to promote better hand washing habits and other basic
hygiene practices will continue as doctors, public health
officials, and parents continue to stress how effective they are at
preventing staph infections. What's not clear is whether the
new precautions will stick once the headlines about a
"superbug" fade. And the bigger question is, will people
begin showing more care in the use of antibiotics - parents by not
pressuring pediatricians to prescribe them and doctors by resisting
when they do? And if they don't, will even more persistent
virulent bacteria appear on the horizon?
For Kids:
Why Do I Need to Wash My Hands?
What Are Germs?
For Teens:
Should I Worry About MRSA?
Hand Washing
For Parents:
News - Making Sense of MRSA
Why Is Hand Washing So Important?
Making Sense of Medical News
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Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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