Factfile: MRSA and C.diff superbugs
What is MRSA? MRSA stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
What is MRSA?
MRSA stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is a common type of bacteria which lives harmlessly in the nose or on the skin of about 25 to 30 per cent of people.
Most people do not even realise they are carrying the germ, or only experience minor problems such as skin infections or boils.
Minor SA infections can be treated with antibiotics. In the past, even serious SA infections could be successfully treated with antibiotics similar to methicillin. However, over the past 50 years or so, some types of SA have developed into "super-strains", which have become resistant to methicillin as well as many other antibiotics, and so are classified as MRSA.
MRSA can be difficult to treat and may require a lengthy stay in hospital. In some cases, it can lead to serious health problems such as blood poisoning and infections of the lungs, bones or the heart valves. A small number of people die from the effects of MRSA.
From April 1, every patient electively admitted to hospital for an operation will be swabbed prior to admission to see if they are infected. If they are, they will be given a special body wash to get rid of the infection before they are admitted.
Related links:
MRSA - NHS website - http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/MRSA.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
What is C.diff?
Clostridium difficile (C. diff) is a bacterium that is present naturally in the gut of about three per cent of adults and 66 per cent of children.
C. diff does not cause any problems in healthy people. However, some antibiotics that are used to treat other health conditions can interfere with the balance of "good" bacteria in the gut. When this happens, C. diff bacteria can multiply and cause symptoms such as diarrhoea and fever.
As C. diff infections are usually caused by antibiotics, most cases usually happen in a healthcare environment, such as a hospital or care home. Older people are most at risk from infection, with the majority of cases (80 per cent) occurring in people over 65.
Most people with a C. diff infection make a full recovery. However, in rare cases, the infection can be fatal.
The number of C. diff cases rose seven per cent between 2005 and 2006, to 55,620 in 2006. One of the main reasons for this rise is the improvement in tests to diagnose the infection, but there has clearly been an increase in the number of cases.
In most cases, C. diff infections can be prevented by following good hygiene practices in healthcare environments. However, it is extremely contagious and is spread very easily.
Related links:
Clostridium difficile - NHS website - http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Clostridium-difficile.
Clostridium difficile - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
PeterboroughToday.co.uk & The Evening Telegraph are not responsible for the content of external websites.
Related feature:
Matrons in the frontline to fight spread of infection: Julia Ogden meets three Peterborough matrons, 25 March 2009.
Details correct at 25/03/09
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