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707563 tn?1626361905

Superbugs - Doctor sounds alarm about spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria

https://www.today.com/health/what-are-superbugs-doctor-sounds-alarm-about-spread-antibiotic-resistant-t159703

"The rise of superbugs — microbes resistant to some of the most powerful modern drugs — has public health officials scrambling for a solution.

But the current state of affairs is worrisome, with Dr. Matthew McCarthy, an infectious disease specialist, painting an alarming picture in his new book, “Superbugs: The Race to Stop an Epidemic.”

“There are more superbugs, fewer treatment options and fewer people who know how to treat them,” McCarthy, an assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell and a staff physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, told TODAY."

For more, see the article.
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1415174 tn?1453243103
Yes superbugs are on the rise. One multidrug resistant bacteria is Staphylococcus aureus. It can become multidrug resistant Staph aureus or (MRSA) and make it difficult to treat. But usually there are a number of antibiotics to treat with . The bigger problem is when they cause recurring infections. Some of these MRSA bacteria "take root" in the area they infected you with and sort of "seed" themselves. You can keep treating it but you really have to stay on top of this if it recurs. Staphylococci are normally on skin, can be carried in the nose, and other places. These MRSA bacteria can be acquired in the hospital (called nosocomial) or acquired in your community or called community acquired MRSA. If you get pneumonia from one of these bacteria the community acquired form can actually become more severe. Normally, Staph cause skin infections like boils, or crusty sores. They can be spread by touching a persons sore and then touching your skin. Less often they can get into your blood from a puncture wound or other means. See your doctor if you have any questions  about infection that rapidly gets worse, spreads, causes a high fever, or causes red streaks. Anything that doesn't look right or isn't easily treated with a topical antibiotic such as triple antibiotic ointment or Neosporin should be looked at.
mkh9
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