Useful Resources
MRSA: Scourge of Hospitals
December 15, 2008
MRSA, otherwise known as the "Superbug," often sends the media into frenzy, particularly when a person contracts it in a locker room or a college dorm and dies. There are two types, community-associated and health-care-associated, and they are often confused. Community-based infections account for few deaths or serious disabilities, yet receive most of the media's attention. Health-care-associated infections accounted for 85 percent of the reported cases and almost 18,000 deaths in 2005, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate released in 2007. The cause of these difficult-to-treat infections is formally known as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. It can defeat several common antibiotics. Updated February 2010
Resource Links
Blogs
Journalist Maryn McKenna calls her blog a "virtual whiteboard" for her new book, Superbug, expected to be published in March 2010. She also blogs on related infectious diseases.
A blog from Daniel Goldberg, a graduate student at the University of Texas in medical humanities and a postdoctoral fellow with Baylor College of Medicine
Social network of MRSA activists created by Dave Roberts, an interested individual
Guidance for Consumers
Site created by Dave Roberts, a man interested in the public health issues surrounding MRSA
A site created by survivors of the disease. Includes personal anecdotes, links, disease information and fact sheets
The California Department of Education published a parents' guide to MRSA in 23 languages.
Information for the public on community-associated MRSA
Advocacy
Informational and advocacy nonprofit started by Jeanine Thomas, a MRSA survivor in Chicago
The leading organization of physicians, scientists and other health care professionals who specialize in infectious diseases. The society promotes excellence in patient care, education, research, public health, and prevention.
Public Policy
Information about the first-ever quick test for MRSA infections approved by the FDA
Provided by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
California Department of Public Health on workers' compensation with regards to MRSA skin infections
Statistics, Trends and Research
Study of the incidence of community-associated MRSA in nine cities in the U.S. in 2007 (PDF download)
2007 summary of the prevalence of MRSA in different environments and their effects
Understanding MRSA
Excellent series from the Seattle Times on the impact of MRSA on hospital patients in Washington
Resources about MRSA from a dental perspective
Information from L.A. County on community-associated MRSA
Resource from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on health-care-associated MRSA
Information on MRSA from the National Institutes of Health
Resource from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on community-associated MRSA
