Staph SuperBugs and MRSA Super Bugs

Flesh eating bacteria, Mersa, C. difficile, Tuberculosis, antibiotic resistant bacteria…

These words have been flying around the media lately, and they affect millions of people each year. But what are they? What does it all mean? And what can you do to protect yourself and your family from these infectious bacteria?

Oprah Airs New Show on MRSA Super Bug Infections

Oprah, with the help of Dr. Mehmet Oz M.D., recently aired a show solely devoted to help people understand more about the emergence of Superbug infections. As Oprah discussed, superbugs have been seen in the news as "flesh eating bacteria" (also called necrotizing fasciitis), MRSA (short for the bacteria called Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus), C. diff (the bacteria Clostridium difficile) and "Staph" (short for the bacteria Staphylococcus).

Oprah also interviewed NBA all-star Grant Hill, who got MRSA in 2003. Dr. Mehmet Oz also joined Oprah to talk about these infections and how to prevent getting them.

The growing inability of mainstream medicine to successfully treat Staph and MRSA infections is a source frustration, disappointment, fear, and even despair for hundreds of thousands of people suffering from these potentially deadly infections.
- Microbiologist and Staph Researcher Michelle Moore

What Are SuperBugs?

Superbugs refer to bacteria which have become resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Antibiotics are pharmaceutical compounds that kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics are most often prescribed by doctors to stop the growth of bacterial infections. The term "super bug" was then coined to define bacteria that don’t respond to antibiotics used to treat infection.

The Centers for Disease Control have indicated that we are near the end of effectiveness for the antibiotics we have so long relied upon. These super bug bacteria are quickly overcoming antibiotics and scientists can not make them quick enough.

The MRSA Super Bug

One of the most common superbug infections right now is the MRSA super bug, which stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. MRSA is caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus or "Staph," that has acquired an immunity or resistance to the penicillin type of antibiotics and other currently used antibiotics. You can get MRSA super bug infections in the community (like at your grocery store, gym or daycare center), or at health care facilities like hospitals. You can learn more about MRSA by clicking here: What is MRSA.

Staph superbug infections are also common, however Staph is not as resistant to antibiotics as MRSA. A 2007 APIC study (Association for Professionals in Infection and Epidemiology) showed that Staph Superbug infections affect an estimated 1.2 million healthcare patients each year (MRSA infections are part of this number). And, as mentioned above, these infections can also be caught in the community.

The Rise of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance refers to the ability of a bacteria to withstand or overcome the effects of antibiotics so that antibiotics no longer can control a particular bacteria.

Antibiotics have been used only since the 1940’s to stop the growth of bacteria. Unfortunately, the more antibiotics are used, and abused, the quicker bacteria learn to overcome the antibiotic and become resistant to it.

Although the correct antibiotic can be very successful at halting an infection quickly, the more these powerful drugs are used, the less effective they become. Bacteria have an amazing ability to quickly adapt to the drugs we use to kill them. An antibiotic that works well at treating an infection the first time may be totally useless the next time it is used.

Unfortunately, antibiotics have been over-used for some time which has helped create antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics have been over-used (or incorrectly used) by: incorrect diagnosis, unnecessary prescriptions for colds, improper use by patients, and the livestock industry (used to help prevent disease in overcrowded conditions).

Traditional Antibiotic Treatments Failing

While some antibiotics still work, it is apparent that other solutions need to be found. There are many natural antimicrobials available that do not cause antimicrobial resistance. These plant and herb extracts are very safe and can be extremely effective against these superbug infections.

To learn more about these visit my MRSA natural remedies web page. I have also performed extensive research on MRSA and Staph infection treatments and prevention which can be found in my publication MRSA Secrets Revealed.

Prevention of MRSA and Staph Superbugs

Superbugs are commonly very contagious. Staph commonly resides on the skin of 30% of all people. You can even be a carrier of MRSA or Staph bacteria and not even know it. To learn more about how you get these infections, how to help prevent them, and how to protect yourself against them click here for MRSA infection control.