Breaking down the mystery surrounding drug-resistant superbugs
Q. What are these superbugs that people are talking about?
A. They're bacteria that can't easily be treated by front-line antibiotics. One of the most common type is known as MRSA - methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Q. Where did they come from?
A. Originally, these potentially lethal germs thrived only in hospitals, where they found easy targets among critically ill patients. Over time, staph bacteria capable of evading penicillin and other standard antibiotics started appearing on the skin of otherwise healthy children and adults. The strains circulating in the community aren't necessarily escapees from hospitals; in many cases they are distinct from the hospital type.
Q. Why don't standard antibiotics work against these germs?
A. The genetic makeup of these bacteria changes just enough so that certain drugs are no longer effective. That often happens because of overuse or inappropriate use of antibiotics. If a germ sees too much of one drug, it begins to figure out a way to avoid destruction by that medication.
Q. How can a superbug infection be spotted?
Q. How do these germs spread?
A. Outbreaks have been identified among professional football players, prison inmates, and men who have sex with men, among other groups. Typically, close contact is required. One federal study of an outbreak among football players showed that lineman were at especially high risk, suggesting that the crushing contact of that position caused scrapes and cuts that became entry points for bacteria. Researchers believe that in some cases, young athletes transfer the bacteria by sharing locker room razors. The germs can also remain on surfaces if someone has an infected cut, doesn't cover it, and touches the surface. The drug-resistant staph typically are not spread through the air.
Q. Is there anything to treat these infections?
A. Yes. Later-generation antibiotics, sometimes given intravenously, can help stop these superbugs, but those drugs can be more expensive. For most children and adults, the infections are treated without lingering complications. The germs remain most dangerous to patients with significant underlying health problems.
Q. What's the best way to prevent catching one of these infections in the first place?
A. What's true for so many other germs is true for these superbugs: practicing good hygiene can keep them at bay. That means thorough hand-washing using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. It also means keeping cuts and scrapes clean and covered until healed, and avoiding contact with other people's wounds or bandages. Towels and razors should not be shared.
STEPHEN SMITH
