November 26, 2009
Drug resistant bacterial infection, known as MRSA, poses a far greater health risk than once thought.
Ramanan Laxminarayan of Princeton University in New Jersey and his colleagues conducted the study which lead to the revelation.
The researchers looked at data from more than 300 microbiology labs serving U.S. hospitals.
What they discovered, two new strains of MRSA were found in patients that are different from the strains typically seen in hospitals.
In fact, cases of the drug resistant bacterial infection have risen by 90% since 1999 and they are increasingly being acquired outside of hospitals.
MRSA is one of the most common causes of hospital acquired infections.
The new threat is easily being picked up in schools, fitness centers and other public places.
The research team says the findings indicate a need for local and national policies to contain and prevent MRSA.
Furthermore, they also are calling for new tests that can quickly diagnose a patient who has the infection so they can be treated quickly.
The researchers estimate that 20,000 people in the U.S. die annually from MRSA.
You can ready more about the study in the December issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases.