Day to day MRSA mutations watched in dying patient
MRSA or Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus or ‘Hospital Super Bug’ is one of the current scourges of hospitals. A genuinely held belief that decades of poor hygiene practices and over-use of antibiotics have contributed to increasing antibiotic resistance of this bug appears to hold true. In genetic terms MRSA is truly amazing in so much that it can mutate at a moment’s notice to create resistance to so many antibiotics.
A team from the Rockefellar Institute has just announced that they have looked closely at six blood samples taken over the final three months in the life of the man, who had picked up an MRSA infection in his heart valve.
They broke down the entire genetic structure of the bacteria found in the samples, and recorded how the genetic code changed during the 12 week period.
During this time, doctors unsuccessfully tried a number of different types of antibiotic, including vancomycin.
The results from virtually every blood sample showed small genetic shifts, including several known to be linked to bacteria increasing their resistance against antibiotics.
In particular, bacteria from the first sample showed no genetic signs of vancomycin resistance - but a few samples later, they were far better equipped genetically to survive the drug.
They hope it will improve understanding of how bacteria adapt and survive.
Interestingly in the last few weeks there is evidence that natural products may help in the fight to kill this bug. These include instant steam (see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6919473.stm) and garlic, well known for its astringent/sterilisating/healing qualities.
Penny
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POSTED IN: General Genetics and Health, Genetic Future, Genetic Ingenuity, Genetic Testing
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4 opinions for Day to day MRSA mutations watched in dying patient
» This week in health and science - 8/3/07 - Women's Health Research News blog from IdeasForWomen.com
Aug 4, 2007 at 2:28 am
[...] Earlier this week I wrote about the problem of hospital cleanliness including problems with MRSA. This week Penny at Genetics and Health wrote about how the bacteria mutated and evolved in one dying man. [...]
Stalin’s army infection treatment helping fight against MRSA
Aug 16, 2007 at 6:28 am
[...] to my article on MRSA’s ability to rapidly mutateas a means of increasing resistance to antibiotics, there’s an article on the BBC website [...]
larry karam
Sep 15, 2007 at 2:26 am
My sister just recently contracted mrsa in her blood stream from an unknown source at this time.As we speak she is on a ventilater and may be permanently paralyzed from the neck down if she survives this. She is presently in Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh pa. in intensive care .
michael volz
Oct 31, 2007 at 10:38 pm
read your article on mrsa mutations- wife knee operation
07-”05 pain never left her until 08-”07 after 2nd spacer removed.-had been put on vancomyacin 12-”06 not by
biopsy test ,but by guess of knee asperation(white pus).
I had hospital call in an infection who said it was mrsa and put her on tigcycaline. Infection cleared and new knee put in. can you test pus for infection?
Thank you,michael
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