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. Rockefeller University scientists tested the new drug, called Ceftobiprole, against some of the deadliest strains of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria, which are responsible for the great majority of staphylococcal infections worldwide, both in hospitals and in the community.
The research, to be published in the August 2008 issue of the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy and available online now, looked at how well Ceftobiprole worked against bacterial clones that had already developed resistance to other drugs. In every case, Ceftobiprole won. "It just knocked out the cells 100 percent," says the study's lead investigator, Alexander Tomasz, head of the Laboratory of Microbiology at Rockefeller.
Previous research had already shown that -- in general -- Ceftobiprole was highly effective against most clinical isolates of S. aureus. "Instead, we looked more carefully at the highly resistant cells that already occur in such clinical isolates at very low frequency -- maybe in one bacterium in every 1,000," says Tomasz. Ceftobiprole was able to kill these resistant cells.
Never before has an antibiotic been tested this way. "In the history of antibiotic development, an antibiotic arrives on the scene, and sooner or later resistant bacteria emerge," Tomasz says. "We sought to test in advance which would win this particular chess game: the new drug, or the bacteria that now cause human deaths."
In an ominous new "move" in this chess game, S. aureus strains with resistance to vancomycin (VRSA), a different class of antibiotics, also began to appear in hospitals in the United States. Ceftobiprole was also able to kill these new resistant VRSA strains.
The drug is effective because the chemists who developed Ceftobiprole managed to outwit the bacteria at their own game, Tomasz says. The broad-spectrum antibiotic was discovered by Basilea Pharmaceuticals, based in Basel, Switzerland, and is being developed in the U.S. and worldwide by Johnson & Johnson. The research was supported by Johnson & Johnson along with a grant from the U.S. Public Health Service.
Source : Rockefeller University
Showing posts with label superbugs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label superbugs. Show all posts
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
'We may never get rid of our hospital superbugs'
Thursday August 21 2008
HOSPITAL bugs like MRSA and C Diff -- linked to dozens of deaths in Ireland -- may always be with us, a top consultant has warned.
C Diff infection contributed to 10 deaths at St Colmcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown last year, and to 13 deaths at Ennis General Hospital.
A new virulent strain of C Diff, called 027, has emerged recently and it has more toxins in it than in other types of C Diff, making it a more serious strain, consultant microbiologist with the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Dr Fidelma Fitzpatrick said.
The priority was to minimise the incidence of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HCAIs) as much as possible and she believed hospitals have procedures in place to prevent them.
But eventually eliminating MRSA, C Diff and other infections in hospitals or the community is problematic because "as long as there is healthcare, there will be HCAIs," she said.
High risk patients include those who are older, have a damaged immune system due to cancer or other diseases, patients on antibiotics or those with breaks in their skin from insertion of drips, from wounds or burns or after surgery.
C Diff is a bug found in the bowel of about one in 20 healthy patients and is kept in check by the "good" bacteria in the bowel.
"If a patient takes an antibiotic, sometimes this can kill off the good bacteria in the bowel and that allows bugs such as C Diff to multiply and in some patients this can also lead to C Diff infection," Dr Fitzpatrick said.
The most common symptom of C Diff is diarrhoea, although some people complain of nausea, reduced appetite and crampy abdominal pain.
"It's important to remember that most patients recover completely from C Diff," she said.
"However, in a small percentage of patients, the infection causes an inflammation of the bowel (colitis) and that can be very serious. But again, it is more serious in the high risk groups of patients."
The most recent comprehensive study, in 2006, showed that approximately one in 20 Irish patients had a HCAI at the time of the study. The incidence was less than in England, where around one in 12 patients had a HCAI at the time.
- Source: - Harold.ie
HOSPITAL bugs like MRSA and C Diff -- linked to dozens of deaths in Ireland -- may always be with us, a top consultant has warned.
C Diff infection contributed to 10 deaths at St Colmcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown last year, and to 13 deaths at Ennis General Hospital.
A new virulent strain of C Diff, called 027, has emerged recently and it has more toxins in it than in other types of C Diff, making it a more serious strain, consultant microbiologist with the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Dr Fidelma Fitzpatrick said.
The priority was to minimise the incidence of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HCAIs) as much as possible and she believed hospitals have procedures in place to prevent them.
But eventually eliminating MRSA, C Diff and other infections in hospitals or the community is problematic because "as long as there is healthcare, there will be HCAIs," she said.
High risk patients include those who are older, have a damaged immune system due to cancer or other diseases, patients on antibiotics or those with breaks in their skin from insertion of drips, from wounds or burns or after surgery.
C Diff is a bug found in the bowel of about one in 20 healthy patients and is kept in check by the "good" bacteria in the bowel.
"If a patient takes an antibiotic, sometimes this can kill off the good bacteria in the bowel and that allows bugs such as C Diff to multiply and in some patients this can also lead to C Diff infection," Dr Fitzpatrick said.
The most common symptom of C Diff is diarrhoea, although some people complain of nausea, reduced appetite and crampy abdominal pain.
"It's important to remember that most patients recover completely from C Diff," she said.
"However, in a small percentage of patients, the infection causes an inflammation of the bowel (colitis) and that can be very serious. But again, it is more serious in the high risk groups of patients."
The most recent comprehensive study, in 2006, showed that approximately one in 20 Irish patients had a HCAI at the time of the study. The incidence was less than in England, where around one in 12 patients had a HCAI at the time.
- Source: - Harold.ie
Saturday, December 29, 2007
SV hospital seeing rise in community acquired MRSA cases
By Dana Cole
Herald/Review
Published on Friday, December 28, 2007
Hand washing is extremely important now more than ever. SIERRA VISTA — Know as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, this staph infection is extremely resistant to most antibiotics.
It has become one of the country’s most common causes of skin infection and is considered a rapidly emerging public health problem.
At one time MRSA was known as the “Hospital Superbug.”
“That’s because it was found in hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities,” said Ann Kuhl, infection control coordinator for Sierra Vista Regional Health Center. “But in recent years, we have seen a community acquired form of MRSA. In fact, the number of community acquired cases has jumped exponentially in the past five years.”
More than half of all MRSA cases seen at the Sierra Vista hospital are the community acquired form and have nothing to do with the hospital, Kuhl said.
“The two types look and act differently, so it’s easy for us to track,” she added. “The community acquired MRSA manifests as a skin infection and often starts out as a small red lesion that grows quickly and is generally localized.”
While hospital-associated MRSA was first identified in 1968, the community acquired form is fairly new, Kuhl said.
There are steps that can be taken to reduce the incidence of community acquired MRSA infections.
“Good hygiene is key,” Kuhl stated. “Wash your hands regularly, with soap. All open cuts or sores need to be kept clean.”
The smallest scrapes, paper cuts, animal scratches, as well as open skin lesions, are an invitation for MRSA infections. “Staph, in general, if you give it a way to enter into the body, can become a big problem,” Kuhl warns. “We just can’t emphasize thorough and frequent hand washing enough. Hand sanitizers are very effective.”
Taking basic contact precautions and keeping home environments clean also are imperative for good infection control. Clusters of community acquired MRSA skin infections have been documented in athletes participating in contact sports, military recruits, IV drug users and prisoners. Other risk factors include close skin-to-skin contact, exposure to contaminated items and surfaces and crowded living conditions.
The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus is present in many people and typically causes no problems. It’s estimated that about a third of the population carry it in the nose, throat and on the skin. But if it gets inside the body, such as under the skin, it can cause serious, potentially fatal infections. If staph infects the lungs, it can cause pneumonia.
“Staphylococcus aureus becomes a health problem when it’s resistant to commonly used antibiotics,” Kuhl said. “Staphylococcus aureus that is resistant to Methicillin is MRSA.”
More than 50 percent of the staph isolates seen by SVRHC are resistant to the usual antibiotics that are used to treat them, Kuhl said.
While most healthy people will never become seriously ill from this bacteria, it can be a health threat for young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. Despite documented risk factors, Kuhl warns there are no patterns when it comes to community acquired MRSA, which further emphasizes the need for everyone to take extra precautions.
The hospital is planning a three-month-long MRSA prevention campaign, an educational program that all 800 hospital employees will be required to attend.
“We’re using this program as a reminder for our staff, emphasizing the importance of good hand hygiene and why we need to take extra precautions,” Kuhl said. “When a patient comes in with MRSA, it’s our policy to take special precautions when working with that person.”
Herald/Review
Published on Friday, December 28, 2007
Hand washing is extremely important now more than ever. SIERRA VISTA — Know as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, this staph infection is extremely resistant to most antibiotics.
It has become one of the country’s most common causes of skin infection and is considered a rapidly emerging public health problem.
At one time MRSA was known as the “Hospital Superbug.”
“That’s because it was found in hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities,” said Ann Kuhl, infection control coordinator for Sierra Vista Regional Health Center. “But in recent years, we have seen a community acquired form of MRSA. In fact, the number of community acquired cases has jumped exponentially in the past five years.”
More than half of all MRSA cases seen at the Sierra Vista hospital are the community acquired form and have nothing to do with the hospital, Kuhl said.
“The two types look and act differently, so it’s easy for us to track,” she added. “The community acquired MRSA manifests as a skin infection and often starts out as a small red lesion that grows quickly and is generally localized.”
While hospital-associated MRSA was first identified in 1968, the community acquired form is fairly new, Kuhl said.
There are steps that can be taken to reduce the incidence of community acquired MRSA infections.
“Good hygiene is key,” Kuhl stated. “Wash your hands regularly, with soap. All open cuts or sores need to be kept clean.”
The smallest scrapes, paper cuts, animal scratches, as well as open skin lesions, are an invitation for MRSA infections. “Staph, in general, if you give it a way to enter into the body, can become a big problem,” Kuhl warns. “We just can’t emphasize thorough and frequent hand washing enough. Hand sanitizers are very effective.”
Taking basic contact precautions and keeping home environments clean also are imperative for good infection control. Clusters of community acquired MRSA skin infections have been documented in athletes participating in contact sports, military recruits, IV drug users and prisoners. Other risk factors include close skin-to-skin contact, exposure to contaminated items and surfaces and crowded living conditions.
The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus is present in many people and typically causes no problems. It’s estimated that about a third of the population carry it in the nose, throat and on the skin. But if it gets inside the body, such as under the skin, it can cause serious, potentially fatal infections. If staph infects the lungs, it can cause pneumonia.
“Staphylococcus aureus becomes a health problem when it’s resistant to commonly used antibiotics,” Kuhl said. “Staphylococcus aureus that is resistant to Methicillin is MRSA.”
More than 50 percent of the staph isolates seen by SVRHC are resistant to the usual antibiotics that are used to treat them, Kuhl said.
While most healthy people will never become seriously ill from this bacteria, it can be a health threat for young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. Despite documented risk factors, Kuhl warns there are no patterns when it comes to community acquired MRSA, which further emphasizes the need for everyone to take extra precautions.
The hospital is planning a three-month-long MRSA prevention campaign, an educational program that all 800 hospital employees will be required to attend.
“We’re using this program as a reminder for our staff, emphasizing the importance of good hand hygiene and why we need to take extra precautions,” Kuhl said. “When a patient comes in with MRSA, it’s our policy to take special precautions when working with that person.”
Friday, December 14, 2007
Teacher Dies from Staph Infection
ROCKVILLE, Md. -- A Rockville teacher died Sunday evening due to complications from a virulent form of staph infection.
Merry King, 48, was a special education teacher at Herbert Hoover Middle School.
School officials said the 48-year-old had been absent from Hoover since Nov. 30 and hospitalized since early last week.
King's daughter, Charlotte Oliver, told school officials her mother had been in a coma and died five days later of complications from a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, infection.
"We're not really certain when or how she picked it up," Oliver said. "She may have had it for a while. By the time she checked into the hospital it was so acute that there wasn't a lot they could do."
"Ms. King was a beloved staff member and students in her class will be deeply affected by her death," said Hoover Middle School Principal Billie-Jean Bensen, in a letter sent home with students.
Bensen said there is no indication King's illness was related to her work at the school and there is no reason to believe anyone there has an increased risk of contracting MRSA.
The classroom in which King worked was sanitized with bleach, News4's Megan McGrath reported. Common areas at the school are scheduled to be sanitized Tuesday night. Officials said they do not believe there is a threat to students, staff or faculty at the school.
As King's family copes with the loss, they are also disinfecting the teacher's home.
Students learned of her death on Monday and said they were very upset by it.
Officials said there were grief counselors on hand at the school.
In a letter sent home to parents, the school's principal expressed condolences and at the same time moved to reassure parents that their children are safe.
As parents dropped their children off at school Tuesday, many said they were not worried about their children contracting the disease.
The Montgomery school system has had 43 cases in 31 schools this school year, primarily among student athletes, said Kate Harrison, a spokeswoman for the Montgomery County school system. There are currently only four active cases among county students. Harrison said King's case was believed to be the first since August involving a teacher.
Dozens of cases of the infection have been reported in the Washington region, but exact figures are not available because doctors are not required to report MRSA to state health authorities.
An estimated 90,000 people in the United States fall ill each year from MRSA. It is not clear how many die from the infection; one estimate put it at more than 18,000, which would be slightly higher than U.S. deaths from AIDS.
Merry King, 48, was a special education teacher at Herbert Hoover Middle School.
School officials said the 48-year-old had been absent from Hoover since Nov. 30 and hospitalized since early last week.
King's daughter, Charlotte Oliver, told school officials her mother had been in a coma and died five days later of complications from a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, infection.
"We're not really certain when or how she picked it up," Oliver said. "She may have had it for a while. By the time she checked into the hospital it was so acute that there wasn't a lot they could do."
"Ms. King was a beloved staff member and students in her class will be deeply affected by her death," said Hoover Middle School Principal Billie-Jean Bensen, in a letter sent home with students.
Bensen said there is no indication King's illness was related to her work at the school and there is no reason to believe anyone there has an increased risk of contracting MRSA.
The classroom in which King worked was sanitized with bleach, News4's Megan McGrath reported. Common areas at the school are scheduled to be sanitized Tuesday night. Officials said they do not believe there is a threat to students, staff or faculty at the school.
As King's family copes with the loss, they are also disinfecting the teacher's home.
Students learned of her death on Monday and said they were very upset by it.
Officials said there were grief counselors on hand at the school.
In a letter sent home to parents, the school's principal expressed condolences and at the same time moved to reassure parents that their children are safe.
As parents dropped their children off at school Tuesday, many said they were not worried about their children contracting the disease.
The Montgomery school system has had 43 cases in 31 schools this school year, primarily among student athletes, said Kate Harrison, a spokeswoman for the Montgomery County school system. There are currently only four active cases among county students. Harrison said King's case was believed to be the first since August involving a teacher.
Dozens of cases of the infection have been reported in the Washington region, but exact figures are not available because doctors are not required to report MRSA to state health authorities.
An estimated 90,000 people in the United States fall ill each year from MRSA. It is not clear how many die from the infection; one estimate put it at more than 18,000, which would be slightly higher than U.S. deaths from AIDS.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
MRSA case in Mattawan HS
MATTAWAN (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A student at Mattawan High School has been diagnosed with MRSA.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA is one of the "superbugs" that have evolved resistance to some commonly used antibiotics.
The Superintendent has told Newschannel 3 that the school has not been closed and the Health Department does not consider it a serious case.
The Superintendent also says that the school district is following cleaning and disinfecting procedures outlined by the Health Department.
The condition of the student with the infection is not known.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA is one of the "superbugs" that have evolved resistance to some commonly used antibiotics.
The Superintendent has told Newschannel 3 that the school has not been closed and the Health Department does not consider it a serious case.
The Superintendent also says that the school district is following cleaning and disinfecting procedures outlined by the Health Department.
The condition of the student with the infection is not known.
Deodoriser may help beat superbugs in hospitals
By Simon Bristow
A MACHINE used to rid hospitals of bad smells could help beat so-called superbugs.
Wigan-based firm Scent Technologies has discovered that its ST-PRO deodorising machine not only issues a pleasant aroma, but proves highly effective in killing airborne bacteria associated with MRSA and Clostridium difficile.
The discovery was made almost by chance at a hospital in Whiston, St Helens, three years ago. And following seven months of clinical trials in the burns unit at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, the product is to be developed and produced by Hull company Bonus Electrical.
Prof Valerie Edwards-Jones, a microbiologist at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: "We found in the burns unit that it reduced airborne counts by 90 per cent. What surprised us was in the control room, where we didn't have any vapours, the counts were down there."
He said the results were "very encouraging."
The machine, which has also been trialled at Airedale Hospital, works by releasing an invisible vapour containing essential oils into the air.
Scent Technologies director Roy Jackson said the machine could also be used in offices and adapted for use in aircraft.
A MACHINE used to rid hospitals of bad smells could help beat so-called superbugs.
Wigan-based firm Scent Technologies has discovered that its ST-PRO deodorising machine not only issues a pleasant aroma, but proves highly effective in killing airborne bacteria associated with MRSA and Clostridium difficile.
The discovery was made almost by chance at a hospital in Whiston, St Helens, three years ago. And following seven months of clinical trials in the burns unit at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, the product is to be developed and produced by Hull company Bonus Electrical.
Prof Valerie Edwards-Jones, a microbiologist at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: "We found in the burns unit that it reduced airborne counts by 90 per cent. What surprised us was in the control room, where we didn't have any vapours, the counts were down there."
He said the results were "very encouraging."
The machine, which has also been trialled at Airedale Hospital, works by releasing an invisible vapour containing essential oils into the air.
Scent Technologies director Roy Jackson said the machine could also be used in offices and adapted for use in aircraft.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
British hospitals 'among worst for superbugs'
British hospitals are among the worst in Europe for superbugs, according to figures published yesterday.
Britain was found to be the fifth worst country for superbug resistance
In a league table of 29 countries only Portugal, Malta, Cyprus and Romania have higher proportions of potentially deadly antibiotic-resistant hospital-acquired infections.
Only some forms of superbugs are resistant to antibiotics - including those known as MRSA. They are part of the staphylococcus aureus family of bacteria that can live on the skin or in the nose and can cause a range of illnesses and symptoms from boils and abscesses to life-threatening diseases such as meningitis and septicaemia.
By Bruno Waterfield and Nic Fleming
The bacteria become dangerous to patients once they enter the bloodstream and those that are resistant to antibiotics pose the greatest threat.
The European Union's Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) report on communicable diseases ranked countries based on the proportion of S aureus infections found to be antibiotic-resistant.
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With an MRSA rate of 44 per cent, Britain was found to be the fifth worst for superbug resistance, behind countries including Greece, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic.
The ECDC study compiled data showing the trend in superbug antibiotic resistance in recent years for each country.
The amount of MRSA as a proportion of all staphylococcus aureus infections in British hospitals was unchanged between 2002 and 2005.
In contrast it fell in other countries including Slovenia, Greece and in France.
Doctors fear the spread of resistance to antibiotics could lead to problems in treating other illnesses such as pneumonia.
The ECDC says the spread of hospital-acquired infections is now the main disease threat in Europe, despite continuing concerns over tuberculosis and HIV.
The report states: "If the present rapid negative development is not halted, mankind will soon lose one of its most important weapons against infectious diseases.
"The most important threat in Europe is posed by micro-organisms that have become resistant to antibiotics."
Figures released by the Office of National Statistics in February showed the number of death certificates in England and Wales that mentioned MRSA rose 39 per cent to 1,629 between 2004 and 2005.
This is widely seen as an underestimate because other causes are often listed when MRSA could have contributed to or been the primary cause deaths. Health officials privately concede they are unlikely to hit the Government target of halving the number of MRSA cases by April.
Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary, said: "With 7,000 nursing posts and 9,000 beds lost in the last year, it is little wonder that we are amongst the worst countries in Europe for rates of MRSA infections."
A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "The report does not show that the UK has one of the worst infection rates in Europe.
"The table only refers to the proportion of staphylococcus aureus blood stream infections that are caused by MRSA.
"Available information indicates that the prevalence of hospital-acquired infections in the UK is similar to those of other European countries and the United States."
Britain was found to be the fifth worst country for superbug resistance
In a league table of 29 countries only Portugal, Malta, Cyprus and Romania have higher proportions of potentially deadly antibiotic-resistant hospital-acquired infections.
Only some forms of superbugs are resistant to antibiotics - including those known as MRSA. They are part of the staphylococcus aureus family of bacteria that can live on the skin or in the nose and can cause a range of illnesses and symptoms from boils and abscesses to life-threatening diseases such as meningitis and septicaemia.
By Bruno Waterfield and Nic Fleming
The bacteria become dangerous to patients once they enter the bloodstream and those that are resistant to antibiotics pose the greatest threat.
The European Union's Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) report on communicable diseases ranked countries based on the proportion of S aureus infections found to be antibiotic-resistant.
advertisement
With an MRSA rate of 44 per cent, Britain was found to be the fifth worst for superbug resistance, behind countries including Greece, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic.
The ECDC study compiled data showing the trend in superbug antibiotic resistance in recent years for each country.
The amount of MRSA as a proportion of all staphylococcus aureus infections in British hospitals was unchanged between 2002 and 2005.
In contrast it fell in other countries including Slovenia, Greece and in France.
Doctors fear the spread of resistance to antibiotics could lead to problems in treating other illnesses such as pneumonia.
The ECDC says the spread of hospital-acquired infections is now the main disease threat in Europe, despite continuing concerns over tuberculosis and HIV.
The report states: "If the present rapid negative development is not halted, mankind will soon lose one of its most important weapons against infectious diseases.
"The most important threat in Europe is posed by micro-organisms that have become resistant to antibiotics."
Figures released by the Office of National Statistics in February showed the number of death certificates in England and Wales that mentioned MRSA rose 39 per cent to 1,629 between 2004 and 2005.
This is widely seen as an underestimate because other causes are often listed when MRSA could have contributed to or been the primary cause deaths. Health officials privately concede they are unlikely to hit the Government target of halving the number of MRSA cases by April.
Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary, said: "With 7,000 nursing posts and 9,000 beds lost in the last year, it is little wonder that we are amongst the worst countries in Europe for rates of MRSA infections."
A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "The report does not show that the UK has one of the worst infection rates in Europe.
"The table only refers to the proportion of staphylococcus aureus blood stream infections that are caused by MRSA.
"Available information indicates that the prevalence of hospital-acquired infections in the UK is similar to those of other European countries and the United States."
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