MRSA

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is an antibiotic-resistant infectious disease first seen in the UK in 1961. [2]. The disease declined over the next decade but re-emerged in hospitals in Eastern Australia in the late 1970's. [3]. A global epidemic[4] that is now considered both epidemic and endemic in US hospitals[5], the disease is most commonly acquired by those in healthcare facilities, as the bacteria can easily enter the body through a wound, catheter, or intravenous tube[6]. Patients in healthcare facilities typically have weakened immune systems due to being in an antibiotic-rich environment, and the bacteria especially thrive in such environments. The disease is also seen among dialysis patients, athletes, military recruits, children, children in day care, Pacific Islanders, Alaskan Natives, Native Americans, gay men, prisoners and foal-watchers, and even their baby horses, among others.[7][8][9][10] In a July 2007 study of 1,237 US hospitals, the infection rate was 46.3 patients in every 1,000. This rate is 8-11 times greater than previously estimated.[11] The CDC reports an infection rate for the general US population of 0.32 in 1000.

The New Gay Plague is a derogatory term used by those who observe that a particularly virulent strain of the disease was spreading through San Francisco's homosexual community in early 2008. However, although the rate of MRSA infection in this community (1.7 in 1000)[12] is six times that of the general population and they are much more likely to contract this strain of MRSA [13], their rate of infection is a third that of the community of US football players (5.2 in 1000)[14] and fractional when compared to US hospital patients (46.3 in 1000)[15]. It is noted that there is no similar term, 'The New Footballers Plague' or 'The New Hospital Plague'.

See also

• Staphylococcus aureus

External links

• Homosexuals Squelch Facts About MRSA Outbreak, Conservatives Say - Pete Winn, CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer - January 28, 2008