The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has dubbed antibiotic-resistant superbugs the “champions of evolution”.  MRSA is described as “exemplif[ying] the genetic adaptation of an organism into a first-class multidrug-resistant pathogen”.

“A concerted effort on the part of academic researchers and their institutions, industry, and government is crucial if humans are to maintain the upper hand in this battle against bacteria — a fight with global consequences.”

Full Article: Antibiotic-Resistant Bugs in the 21st Century — A Clinical Super-Challenge

Michael Pontus, the hospital’s chief executive and president, said more than 10 patients tested positive as carriers of the bacteria late last year, a first for the hospital.

After increased efforts to isolate patients and sanitize surfaces that may have come into contact with the bacteria, he said the number of carriers had been reduced to “around five or so.”

Krell said carriers often didn’t show symptoms of VRE, but the danger was it could be passed on to someone susceptible to infection.

Full Article: ‘Superbug’ found in hospital patients

Nosocomial infections are infections that are a result of treatment in a hospital or a healthcare service unit, but secondary to the patient’s original condition (and as such are a category of iatrogenic artifacts). Infections are considered Nosocomial if they first appear 48 hours or more after hospital admission or within 30 days after discharge.

Enterococci are bacteria that live in the gastrointestinal tract (bowels) of most individuals and generally do not cause harm (this is termed “colonization”). Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are strains of enterococci that are resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin. If a person has an infection caused by VRE, such as a urinary tract infection or blood infection, it may be more difficult to treat.

Staphylococcus Aureus is a type of bacterium that lives on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy people. Occasionally, S. Aureus can cause an infection. When S. Aureus develops resistance to certain antibiotics, it is called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, or MRSA.