methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

'Superbug' Outbreaks Occurring in Children, Otherwise Healthy People Reviewed By Michael Smith, MD
April 20, 2004 -- A dangerous antibiotic-resistant infection once primarily confined to hospitals appears to be spreading in communities, affecting children and otherwise healthy people.

In years past, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was seen almost exclusively among very sick hospital patients. However, in recent years, an increasing number of reports of MRSA in the community have surfaced. And this week new research detailing alarming outbreaks of MRSA infection on opposite ends of the U.S. was presented in Philadelphia at the annual meeting of the Society from Healthcare Epidemiology of America.