Treating MRSA, lightly

摘要

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – Outbreaks ofMRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococ-cus aureus) make the news on a regularbasis. While staph infections are verycommon, the thought of facing an infec-tion that is immune to the antibiotics mostoften used is frightening. It doesn't helpthat the few antibiotics effective againstthe bacteria are extremely potent andcould produce a range of negative side ef-fects. Added to this is the fact that MRSA is no longer solely a "hospital bug" butcan be transferred within the community.Recently, it was identified as having beentransferred from human to elephant andback again, so it is understandable thatpeople want faster, safer treatments.