Here are eight stories and studies on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and other staph infections that have been covered by Becker's Hospital Review over the past few weeks, beginning with the most recent.
1. The next big thing in infection prevention could be nanofiber bandages that coax harmful bacteria like S. aureus from open wounds. Read more.
2. Although bacterial virulence, a factor that affects the severity and outcome of an infection, is widely accepted as being driven by high pathogen toxicity levels, a recent study found that this may not be true for S. aureus. Read more.
3. Researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center have revealed why hospital-acquired MRSA is more deadly than other strains. Read more.
4. Although MRSA infections are typically associated with older hospital patients and nursing homes, the bacteria is causing outbreaks among school-aged children more and more. Read more.
5. Researchers examined whether having rapid molecular results of S. aureus tests available in real-time would impact the antimicrobial selection of emergency department clinicians in a recent study. Read more.
6. The Duke Infection Control Outreach Network, part of Durham, N.C.-based Duke University School of Medicine, teamed up with the NFL and the NFL Players Association to create an infection-prevention manual with best practices and recommendations for preventing the spread of MRSA, among other illnesses. Read more.
7. Nine hospitals in the U.S. reported no Clostridium difficile infections and no MRSA infections between October 2013 and September 2014. Read more.
8. Consumer Reports has expanded its hospital ratings to include data on C. diff and MRSA infections and has found that some hospitals significantly outperform their peers when it comes to preventing these — and other — deadly healthcare-associated infections. Read more.