'Superbug' genome shows extreme drug resistance.British research into one the most recent "superbugs superbugs, n.pl infectious diseases that are unresponsive to known antibiotic treatments. ," reveals that the bacterium has an incredible ability to resist antibiotics and other drugs, according to soon-to-be-published findings. Steno, short for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, thrives in moist environments, such as around taps and shower heads, and can be transmitted to people. It is responsible for roughly 1,000 cases of Steno blood poisoning blood poisoning: see septicemia. in the U.K. annually. About 30 percent of these infections prove fatal. This is the latest in an ever-increasing list of antibiotic-resistant hospital superbugs. The degree of resistance it shows is very worrying; and no new drugs capable of combating these pan-resistant strains. Pan-resistant Steno infections are extremely hard to treat but are rarer than similarly difficult MRSA MRSA Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. See MARSA. and Clostridium difficile Clostridium difficile A common cause of bacterial colitis; it is the causative agent in 99% of pseudomembranous colitis, and 20-30% of antibiotic-associated diarrhea infections that are frequently hospital-acquired. The genome (also found in the lungs of many adults with cystic fibrosis cystic fibrosis (sĭs`tĭk fībrō`sĭs), inherited disorder of the exocrine glands (see gland), affecting children and young people; median survival is 25 years in females and 30 years in males. ) can cause pneumonia and septicemia septicemia (sĕptĭsē`mēə), invasion of the bloodstream by virulent bacteria that multiply and discharge their toxic products. The disorder, which is serious and sometimes fatal, is commonly known as blood poisoning. . Steno only enters the body through devices, such as catheters or ventilation tubes, which are left in place for long periods of time. It sticks to the catheter, grows into a 'biofilm,' and enters the patient's bloodstream when the catheter is next flushed. Steno often affects those with weakened immune systems. With the knowledge that Sterno stick to surfaces, research is on-going to develop biochemical compounds that interfere with this interaction and design inhibitors that block them (silver ?) CDC See Control Data, century date change and Back Orifice. CDC - Control Data Corporation recently reported that in American hospitals alone, healthcare-associated infections account for an estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 associated deaths each year. Of these infections: * 32 percent of all healthcare-associated infection are urinary tract infections * 22 percent are surgical site infections * 15 percent are pneumonia (lung infections) * 14 percent are bloodstream infections Source: Estimating Health Care-Associated Infections and Deaths in U.S. Hospitals, 2002 For more information: U.S. Centers for Disease Control has more about drug-resistant bacteria. |
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