MRSA: Fighting The Superbug

As Reports Of Infection Rise, Expert Says More Research Is Needed To Find The Root Cause

(CBS)  It wasn't that long ago that if your child got a staph infection, it was knocked out with a couple of doses of penicillin. Now, penicillin may not work because there’s a form of staph called "MRSA" that has mutated and become resistant to most antibiotics.

As correspondent Lesley Stahl reports, it's a superbug that used to strike exclusively hospital and nursing home patients. Three years ago, 60 Minutes reported on a then-relatively new community-based MRSA that attacks perfectly healthy people who had not set foot in a hospital.

That's what we're seeing more and more of. New government data estimate that about 2,000 people are dying of community-based MRSA every year. But with the deaths of five school children this year, parents are understandably frantic and want to know what causes it, and how to protect against it. Problem is: there aren't many answers.

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Mt. Lebanon High School in Pennsylvania has been hit hard: 13 members of its football team, the Blue Devils, came down with MRSA infections this year.

Alex Birks and Glenn Isralsky, tight ends on the varsity squad, say the school was spooked.

"I was a little scared. The guy in the locker next to me had it -- a few down. So, I mean, I was takin' my stuff home every night, washin' it, takin' showers all the time," Glenn tells Stahl. "I didn't want to get it. I actually had it sophomore year and I did not want to get it again. So."

"I didn't have a bad case of it. But, I had it," he says.

The first sign was on his elbow after a game in which he'd cut himself on the school’s AstroTurf field. "It starts, it looks nothing more than a pimple. And in a day or two, it can become a huge growth on your skin," Glenn explains.

When diagnosed at this stage, before it gets into the bloodstream, MRSA is usually mild, and easily treated with general-purpose antibiotics, like Bactrim. And kids are told to bandage the sore.

Alex says his parents do look over him. "I'll be sittin' at dinner and my dad will just look up as my mom looks over and says, 'What is that? Lift up your arm.' You know?" he explains.

Both Glenn and Alex admit they're pretty neurotic about MRSA.

The high school brought in Dr. Bruce Dixon, director of the public health department for Allegheny County, to calm the waters.

Why does he think it's hitting young athletes?

"In contact sports people get abraded. They get dragged across a surface. They get banged up," Dr. Dixon explains. "They get cut. They get abrasions."

"And then you touch another athlete," Stahl remarks.

"They touch somebody else. They touch an article of personal hygiene, a towel or something else that somebody else has used. And they get infected," Dixon explains.

Players from four NFL teams have also been infected. But MRSA is not limited to athletes. It tends to strike people who are in close physical contact, like children in day care centers, prisoners in jails, and recently seven New York City firefighters.

"Everyone agrees that this an epidemic. And not only is it an epidemic. But, it's an epidemic of our times. It's here in huge numbers," says Dr. Robert Daum, an infectious disease pediatrician at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

[uranusisnice]

And why haven''t the drug companies been working on a drug to kill this thing...da! Because they would rather develope a product that you have to take everyday for the rest of your life vs a product that you might take for 2-4 weeks and then never need again. I saw the crazy stat somewhere in the last year...something like only 2 antibiotics developed over last 30 years. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Thank you 60 minutes for finally eposing this superbug that the public needs to know about.

I now take an alkaline cocktail of nutrients several times a day,drink very alkaline water, and use highly concentrated garlic drops under my tongue and put cream on my mrsa on my skin. Both of these products are from allimed.

You might check out:
http://www.allimed.us
http://www.forum.mrsaresources.com
http://www.robprince.net/mrsa/forum.asp?page=1
http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/MRSA.html
http://www.optimahealthusa.com/MRSA.html

If I screwed up the links, email me.

"Phage therapy" was being used in u.s. to kill bacteria until penicilin was discovered along with other antibiotics. It is being used in the republic of georgia and other parts of the world. It needs to be brought back to the u.s. fast! If you check out the websites above, 1 lady states in 1 of the forums that she went to the phage center.
check out: http://www.phagetherapycenter.com

Anybody want a Nobel Prize....bring back PHAGE THERAPY to the U.S., Man From Mars With Mrsa
Email: [e-mail]

[alburt2-2009]

The bacteria is methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus. The actual name was not mentioned once in the story. 60 Minutes should trust the audience enough to use a 5 syallable word. The focus on overly hygenic football players was misdirected. A better use of the airtime would have been to talk about advances in rapid MRSA detection.

[crazifaerie]

And what about VRE, ORSA, and mutant strains of HIV?
We have over treated, guys, and if nobody leans on the WHO, CDC, USAMRID--might as well kiss our netherparts goodbye--sorry, I am a nurse so I know.

[fosshield]

As a follow-up, Foss Mfg in Hampton NH was just on the local tv station WMUR this past week to address it''s new product:
Fosshield antimicrobial technology

continously kills MRSA on fabric
natural fiber of silver and copper
soon to be in home/office products

I would have been a great follow on for the piece.
Check us out at fossmfg.com

[johnfantry]

Interesting program on MRSA. nzymSys has been working on advanced, natural, enzyme-based anti-microbial formulations for 3 years. Our latest test results (MicroConsult, Inc., FDA-registered Level 3 lab, Dallas (Amie Myers, 972-250-2902), show 100% success against MRSA, with cold sterilant/disinfectant-grade results and log reductions over 6 at 5 minutes, with maintenance of kill rates to at least 72 hours, a long-term benefit traditional synthetic chemicals cannot deliver. Stability tests at 3 years. nzymSys can handle the critical cleaning and environmental hygiene aspects on the prevention side of the MRSA crisis. Where cleanliness is key, nzymSys has an effective solution, featuring natural, environmentally responsible ingredients with no toxic components or human health risks. As an R&D company, the curve from invention to market is not yet complete. Unregistered, we cannot yet make broad public claims, which inhibits marketing. We seek financial backing and/or a strategic partner to complete the EPA and FDA registration processes. If the capital hurdle can be met and registrations completed, nzymSys could fully deploy against MRSA within 6 months. Contact nzymSys at 410-729-4190. More to say, out of room. www.nzymsys.com

[kingmj1956]

I watched the part of Sunday%u2019s 60 Minutes program pertaining to the MRSA problem. Other then the over use of antibiotics, one other thing that comes to mind are all the products that advertised that claim to kill 99% of all germs. The ones that they don%u2019t kill are probably the tougher ones like MRSA allowing them to multiply out of control becoming easier to contract. If we won%u2019t over kill all the germs the less harmful germs would keep the more hazardous in check. If we would just use plain soap and water to clean we would not have this type of problem. I haven%u2019t heard of this problem in other countries were there is not a lot of advertisement on such thorough sanitation of surfaces.

[babe1958]

Our family survived a vicious attack of flesh eating MRSA. Antibiotics failed to help us get rid of the symptoms. We used potent nutraceuticals (natural antibiotics) and kept our doctors informed. We did not need further medical care. It has been over 1 1/2 yrs and we have not had any more boils.
Why are we throwing antibiotics at an antibiotic resistant infection? Fuel to the fire.

Over use of antibiotics for prevention(?) is what has got us into this mess. We must make wise choices with our consumer dollars to but organic meat and back way off of using drugs.
Nutrition is the best way to be healthy. We are not drug deficient, we are nutritionally deficient.
[e-mail] (put MRSA in subject)

[dougtech1]

Does seem that if the astroturf was tested where a student had fallen, the turf may have tested positive for MRSA. The CDC has much more accurate info on how to treat MRSA than what we saw on 60 minutes. The two sides presented seemed a bit disparate from one another. One of the physicians was declaring an all-out "epidemic" and the other physician seemed to suggest that it wasn''t that big of a deal as long as students covered their wounds.

Any any event Vital Oxide is awesome at killing MRSA. The company also has a high-tech way of applying the disinfectant at schools and hospitals by using an electrostatic sprayer. See vitaloxide.com for more info.

[dougtech1]

Disinfecting with Vital Oxide is safe and non-toxic to kill off MRSA on hard surfaces and fabric. See vitaloxide.com for more info.

The evolution of the MRSA bacteria is definitely an issue we are going to have to deal with. We need to do constant testing of what works and what doesn''t, as well as, how it gets transmitted.

[xanman40014]

Most people are not aware that Xanthones have been proven in laboratory studies to kill MRSA staph. The Mangosteen fruit is the worlds richest source of xanthones. Xanthones have decades of scientific studies from over 200 labs worldwide. Xanthones have a very wide range of health benefits, hundreds of years of folk-lore and the science to back it up. It really is amazing. To educate of yourself on Mangosteen and xanthones, go to www.InformationOnMangosteen.info these actual studies are available for your reading. Again, Xanthones kill the MRSA staph.

[xanman40014]

Is anyone aware about Xanthones? The Mangosteen fruit is the worlds richest source of Xanthones. This is a food. The xanthones has decades of scientific research and studies form over 200 labs worlwide. They have a benefits against many diseases as shown through studies. Here''s the thing though. The xanthones have been show in laboratory petri dishes to kill the MRSA staph. Not only this but it''s next to impossible for the MRSA to grow resistant to the xanthones! Isn''t that interesting? What is Mangosteen and xanthones? go to www.InformationOnMangosteen.info to educate yourself. Once you learn what xanthones are and what they can do for you, you will want these in your bodies for protection. Yes, this can be proven.

[llynn59]

I have worked with MRSA for several years now and have never heard it called Mersa before. I have never heard another healthcare worker call MRSA Mersa either and wondered where this cute little acronym came from. I have discussed this with several colleagues and it is really grating on our nerves. Please don''t down play the seriousness of this dangerous bacteria by giving it a cute name. What will VRE and ESBL be called when they hit the news?

[ahuby]

The comments aired as during your report on MRSA were irresponsible to say the least. Please consult the CDC website on stopping the transmission of MRSA. For your "expert" to say "we should all be terrified but that there is nothing we can do to protect ourselves or our children" borders on malpractice. Not only does washing your hands offer protection against this and many other communicable diseases, but it is recommended and posted on the CDC website. Parents and children are terrified and this "expert" did nothing more than add to their fears with his inaccurate and ridiculous statements. I am providing the link to the cdc website I am referin to. Please provide it to so that everyone can get first hand expert advise on dealing with this current health crisis.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_in_schools.html
Thank you for addressing these inaccuracies.
Sincerely,

A. Donnelly, RN

[flyhigh12345]

Part Four and Final: I don%u2019t know the statistics but I know that unless something is done, the numbers will grow quickly and on top of that; my understanding is that one out of five people infected, die from this bug. There is already a more deadly strain called VRSA, which is Vancomycin resistant and when I last heard, it was about 90 percent fatal. People need to take this seriously and you need to show the real effects of MRSA. Show what MRSA really looks like when it is at its worse, not just a pimple and say that it is what it looks like in an initial stage.
The disease is truly horrible and painful. The treatment is just as horrible and the side effects of Vancomycin are horrendous. Eventually I was able to tolerate the treatments but I would say that initially I felt like I was on cancer chemotherapy. There are also many potential long-term consequences for those of us who have survived. Vancomycin can cause a lot of problems and blood work has to be done every couple days before and after treatment in order to check the levels.
If you are really interested in informing your audience, I would suggest that you go to the hospitals and really see patients at their worse and really show what MRSA looks like. See how sick people really are when they have it. Not just talk to people after the fact.

[flyhigh12345]

Part Three: CBS/60 Minutes needs to clear up the misconception that just covering a MRSA infection and then going back to school, sports practice, or anywhere is acceptable. This bug is no joke and showing the rival school making light of the issue without noting that this is nothing to joke about, was wrong.
Disinfecting infected clothing, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, school buses, locker rooms, etc., is a very necessary thing that needs be done if MRSA has been verified. If no MRSA is present in a school, or work place, etc., then there is nothing at that point to worry about, however, once someone is infected then extra measures must be taken to ensure that MRSA does not spread in those locations.
Washing hands is important however hand soap does not kill MRSA. Hibiclens is the product that I use and I believe that bleach will kill MRSA.
It is very important that the public becomes aware of the severity of this Super Bug. Every time a program tries to get the point across it ends up doing more harm than good. One of your competitor%u2019s show did a program on MRSA and a doctor ended up saying that MRSA is nothing to worry about and that only .00000005 percent or so of people have gotten MRSA. He stated that the schools were going to make sure that the bathroom soap dispensers were never empty, as the solution to the problem.

[flyhigh12345]

Part Two: All Dr. Dixon can UNEQUIVOCALLY say is that MRSA did not live in the samples of ASTRO TURF that he had tested. If he had tested the ASTRO TURF where someone had fallen who was infected with MRSA, then that sample would probably have been positive for MRSA. The fact that other bacteria were found shows that bacteria can be virtually everywhere, including on ASTRO TURF, and they are.
The next fumble is the idea of covering up the infection and living your life normally is absurd. MRSA is all over ones body and clothing not just at the site of the abscess. It can be transferred to anything or anyone that is touched. If someone has a MRSA infection they should be quarantined until the infection is cured and no MRSA is present on the person.
Glenn Isralsky stated that he had MRSA when he was a sophomore. If it was truly MRSA that he had at the time then the school had the MRSA bacteria present since at least that time. Now an additional thirteen players on the team contracted it. If the school had dealt with it properly when he was a sophomore then maybe the others would not have gotten it.
The third fumble is where you state: %u201CWhen diagnosed before it gets into the bloodstream, MRSA is usually mild, and easily treated with general-purpose antibiotics.%u201D This is not true at all because MRSA infections are not easily treated with general-purpose antibiotics. If that were so, then it would not be MRSA. It would just be mild staph infection.

[flyhigh12345]

Leslie, I was very happy to see you address the subject of MRSA. I thought you were going to hit a home run, or should I say, a touchdown, but then you fumbled and dropped the ball big time. Now all kinds of penalty flags lay on the field. I have to send this in partial segments in that your system only allows 1500 words.
I had MRSA in 1995 and was hospitalized 4 times between January and August. After being in the hospital for a couple weeks each time, I was sent home with a PIC line in my arm and needed Vancomycin twice a day for weeks at a time. I had numerous operations to drain the abscesses ranging from the size of a quarter to the size of a grapefruit. The infection can grow from a pimple the size of your fingernail overnight to the size of your fist the next morning.
Two weeks after I went to visit my mother in the hospital I came down with MRSA, There is no doubt in my mind that I contracted it by touching something in the hospital. MRSA can be anywhere and on anything that any bacteria can live on.
Your first fumble was to rely on Dr. Dixon who is very wrong to say that MRSA can only be transferred from person to person. He had the field tested twice, taking samples of the AstroTurf near the goal line right after a big game. He says a few bacteria were found, but no MRSA "whatsoever.%u201D He says, "We can say unequivocally that MRSA staph does not live in AstroTurf,". I can%u2019t believe that you would show that ignorance on your show.

[zorsmom]

I''m now going through a years worth of monthly IVIG infusions with hopes of eradicating whats in my system. These infections, whether big or small are painful and dibilitating. There are days when the left over fatigue keeps me in bed, all day. My story is scary and one I dont take lightly when asked about.
Hand washing is paramount. Cleaning schools, your wasting your time because as soon as the kids come back it starts all over again. Parents, please teach your children how to wash their hands properly, put a bottle of hand sanitizer in their back-packs. Most of all, keep cuts, scratches and scrapes COVERED, CLEAN and DRY until they''re completely healed. Even simple paper cuts should have a band-aide in place.
Bleach your home and surface areas regularly.
Dont share towels, razors and other personal products with others.
I hope this helps. It''s truly a very serious issue.

[zorsmom]

My hats off to 60 mins for a wonderful report on MRSA.
I''ve been battling staph infections for almost 3 yrs.
I became resistant to Vanco and had to use Daptomycin,
for close to 22 months straight via PICC line and then chest lines. I''ve had septicemia from it. The latest, surgery in July to remove it from my back and I''m still recovering w/ a 15 inch incision. I also disagree with Dr. Dixon and know this lives on surface areas. Shame on him for reporting falsely. Dr. Daum is awesome and in his report, completely honest and right on the mark. MORE RESEARCH! MRSA and other highly contagious staph infections are killing us and will continue to do so UNTIL someone finds a way to cure it. This has turned my life and that of my family upside down. It beats you to a pulp.
This is a epidemic and one NOT to be taken lightly.

[bweisbach]

I survived MRSA but my time in the hospital was spent in complete isolation. I was not allowed to leave my hospital room and no one could visit me. PARENTS WAKE UP. IF SOMEONE HAS MRSA THEY SHOULD NOT BE IN PUBLIC SPREADING THE VIRUS. MRSA is a killer, and the media is just placing a small band-aid on a big problem.
Beverly Weisbach