Genetics and Health

MRSA Infection and Blog of the Week: Marshall Jones

by Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD on August 13th, 2005

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This week’s featured blog is Marshall Jones - An MRSA Survivor’s Story. Marshall’s wife, Christina, has faithfully chronicled his successful battle with methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) which started in October 2004. For almost a year, Marshall took heavy doses of antibiotics and other medication, was in and out of the hospital, and struggled with severe pain and other debilitating physical symptoms. Fortunately, he is on the mend now, with no small thanks to his wife!

Christina and Marshall have also established the MRSA Resources website which provides basic information and current news on MRSA. There is also an MRSA forum and MRSA Wiki - great places to network and get support. I’m impressed with Chrstina and Marshall’s ability to empower themselves and learn to work with and against the system. They’re the kind of people who help improve public health for you and me.

As an aside, I’m embarrassed to say that I wasn’t quite sure what MRSA was until I happened upon Marshall’s blog. I’m glad that Christina and Marshall took the time to educate me.

~~~A Little More About MRSA~~~

The issue of antibiotic resistant bacteria is a pressing one for public health. Increased use of antibiotic soap plus the addition of bactericides in plastics (including toys) and textiles has increased the number of bacteria that cause infections which can’t be treated with the most common antibiotics.

Earlier this year, researchers found the enzyme IKKa, which regulates the body’s immune system. A sort of “molecular switch,” inhibiting the enzyme actually seems to increase the body’s ability to fight off infection. Once the gene for this enzyme is identified, it will make treatment of infectious diseases even more precise and effective.

Dr Toby Lawrence, a Wellcome Trust International Research Fellow from Imperial College London, based at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, and lead author of the research, says: “The identification of this ‘double-edged sword’ could be of huge importance in how we deal with a number of major health issues, including MRSA. With antibacterial resistance on the rise, this development could provide doctors with a new way to stop infections without resorting to a cocktail of antibiotics.

The Wichita Eagle recently printed an FAQ on MRSA:

How can I prevent staph or MRSA skin infections?

• Practice good hygiene:
• Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
• Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
• Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.

Although MRSA infection is still rare, it doesn’t make it any less of a public health concern. As I said in Marshall’s blog, more people die every year of violence, natural disasters, starvation, etc., but that doesn’t make every single death no matter the cause any less meaningful.

Pointer to IKKa EurekAlert from mrsa watch.

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