A new study performed by the University of Chicago is showing MRSA skin infections rates are increasing. This new study published in the August 2012 Journal of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology is showing that the number of hospital admissions for MRSA infections doubled in academic medical centers over a recent 5 year period. It revealed that in 2003 the hospitalization rate for MRSA was 21 per 1000 people, while in 2008, it rose to 42 per 1000 people.
Of interest, this data is contrary to what the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) published in 2010. The CDC’s study showed that invasive MRSA infections requiring hospitalization including blood, spinal fluid or deep tissue infections declined 28% from 2005 to 2008.
Why the difference in MRSA rates?
This new study also included MRSA skin infections, which were excluded in the older CDC study. Michael David MD PhD, one of the study’s authors stated “The rapid increase means that the number of people hospitalized with recorded MRSA infections exceeded the number hospitalized with AIDS and influenza combined in each of the last three years of the survey: 2006, 2007, and 2008.”
The researchers also attributed that the rise in MRSA rates is primarily due to community acquired infections, which are those contracted outside of health care settings. Community acquired MRSA most commonly presents as a type of skin infection which could be boils, abscesses or cellulitis.
Other articles you may be interested in
Staph and MRSA skin infections – what to look for
Families at higher risk when caring for a child with MRSA
How to Prevent MRSA
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
In light of this recent news I find it even more important to build awareness of this devastating bacteria and work proactively at decreasing the spread in communities. In my experience treatment and prevention can even be one on the same. This is why we have put together the books and programs: to help people better understand MRSA, how to prevent it and the many treatment options available when antibiotics don’t work, or for those looking for antibiotic alternatives.
Be well,
Michelle
Microbiologist and Natural Health Expert
References:
“Increasing Burden of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Hospitalizations at US Academic Medical Centers, 2003-2008”, Michael Z. David, Sofia Medvedev, Samuel F. Hohmann, Bernard Ewigman, Robert S. Daum, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 33:8 (August 2012).
MRSA Statistics, CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/statistics/index.html
MRSA cases in academic hospitals double in 5 years Friday, July 27, 2012, https://www.labspaces.net/122116/MRSA_cases_in_academic_hospitals_double_in___years
