CDC Urges Increased Effort to Reduce Drug-Resistant Infections

Posted on October 19, 2006  Comments (4)

The US Center for Disease Control has again urged hospitals to increase efforts to reduce drug-resistant infections. In 1972, only 2 percent of these types of bacteria were drug resistant. By 2004, 63 percent of these types of bacteria had become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat them, and methicillin-resistant “staph” infections, often referred to as MRSA, are a growing problem. The CDC press release. This press release is focused on reducing the transmission of such dangers bacteria to patients. Other CDC efforts focus on improving the system to reduce the production of such virulent bacteria.

I know the Pittsburgh area has done a fair amount of work in the reduction of MRSA transmission. Several white papers on their efforts are available. A great PBS documentary covers this and other health care improvements.

Related: How do antibiotics kill bacteria?Drug Resistant Bacteria More CommonEntirely New Antibiotic DevelopedOveruse of Antibioticsaritcles on the overuse of antibioticsCDC antibiotics resistance site

4 Responses to “CDC Urges Increased Effort to Reduce Drug-Resistant Infections”

  1. Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog » MRSA Vaccine Shows Promise
    October 31st, 2006 @ 8:16 pm

    A vaccine to guard against hospital superbug MRSA is a step closer, according to scientists. US researchers have developed a vaccine that protected mice from four potentially deadly strains of MRSA…

  2. Antibiotics Too Often Prescribed for Sinus Woes
    March 22nd, 2007 @ 10:19 am

    […] These stories often tell of doctors that can’t say no to patients even if it means going against what is the best medical advice. Is it any wonder that helath costs continue to escalate, now totaling 16% of GDP, with such practices accepted? […]

  3. CuriousCat: Killing Germs May Be Hazardous to Your Health
    October 23rd, 2007 @ 8:39 pm

    “As antibiotics lose their effectiveness, researchers are returning to an idea that dates back to Pasteur, that the body’s natural microbial flora aren’t just an incidental fact of our biology, but crucial components of our health, intimate companions on an evolutionary journey that began millions of years ago.”

  4. Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog » Antimicrobial Wipes Often Spread Bacteria
    June 5th, 2008 @ 1:30 pm

    “the study into the ability of antimicrobial-surface wipes to remove, kill and prevent the spread of such infections as MRSA, has revealed that current protocols utilised by hospital staff have the potential to spread pathogens…”

Leave a Reply