Read this paragraph about mrsa
The microbe staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium, which commonly colonises skin in up to 40% of the population. It is harmless unless it gets into the body, but if it gains access through an open wound then it can cause septic sores and blood poisoning. In worse case scenarios it can cause such a bad infection that the flesh appears to be “eaten away”. The usual treatment for an infection of this microbe is to treat with a general antibiotic such as penicillin (or methicillin in severe cases.)
In the last 15 years a strain of staphylococcus aureus has evolved which is resistant to both penicillin and methicillin. This is called Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus or MRSA for short. This cannot be treated with general antibiotics and can produce life-threatening infections. This type of infection is known as “flesh-eating” infection. The bug strikes more than 7,000 patients a year, killing 5,000, although campaigners say the death figures could be as high 20,000.
Answer these in Word or Notepad:
In the last 15 years a strain of staphylococcus aureus has evolved which is resistant to both penicillin and methicillin. This is called Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus or MRSA for short. This cannot be treated with general antibiotics and can produce life-threatening infections. This type of infection is known as “flesh-eating” infection. The bug strikes more than 7,000 patients a year, killing 5,000, although campaigners say the death figures could be as high 20,000.
Answer these in Word or Notepad:
- What diseases does the normal variety of staph. aureus cause?
- Why is the MRSA variety more of a problem?
- Why are people in hospital especially vulnerable?