RightHealth Daily Dose » mrsa

Shark Skin As Antibiotic

Steven — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:41:08 +0000

New technologies developed after studying shark skin will soon be appearing at a hospital near you. Scientists at Sharklet Technologies, a Florida-based biotech company, have been studying shark skin for the interesting fact that bacteria just doesn’t seen to stick to it. Under the microscope, it appears that shark skin is composed of diamond-shaped bumps that give it this unique property. Hospital tests using plastic tubing (as used in intravenous lines and catheters) printed with this shark skin pattern showed that microorganisms which can cause potentially serious harm, such as E. coli and Staphylococcus Aureus, were unable to establish colonies large enough to infect humans. The technology is currently pending FDA approval for medical use, but in the interim look out for Sharklet to appear on high-touch surfaces like restroom door handles later this year. [via Popular Science]

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Pets May Be MRSA Carriers

Steven — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:22:46 +0000

A new article in the reputed British medical journal The Lancet is drawing notice to the increasing possibility that our pets may harbor methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, the multi-drug resistant bacteria. MRSA is known to be transmitted between humans, dogs and cats with these pets often becoming reservoirs of the bacteria. In the US and Europe, dog and cat bites consist of 1% of emergency room visits annually. However, as MRSA is on the rise, so is the possibility that household animal bites contain the bacteria. Immediate treatment of canine and feline bites is necessary whether the injury is deep or superficial. This includes thorough cleaning with soap and water, saline, and sometimes antibiotics. Read more about zoonosis, or animal-transmitted infections.

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Another Drug-Resistant Bacteria On The Rise

Steven — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:38:49 +0000

Antibiotics are one of the most important discoveries of modern medicine. However, indiscriminate usage can lead to the rise of antibiotics-resistant bacteria such as MRSA and VRE. Now, physicians are talking about infections due to the bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii, which has been steadily rising in the last three decades. Currently, multidrug resistant A. baumannii has been reported to be around 30%. Risk factors for infection with this bacteria include an extended hospitalization, advanced age, serious comorbid conditions, suppressed immune system, major trauma, invasive procedures (including catheters), and mechanical ventilation.