19/11/2007 :- It's been more than 60 years since the introduction of the first antibiotic, penicillin. Since that time, more than 150 antibiotic drugs have been developed to combat infectious disease. And while these drugs have saved millions of lives, health officials say their too frequent use has given rise to bacteria that are resistant to most, if not all, commonly used antibiotics.

A vicious cycle
These "superbugs" emerge when an antibiotic fails to kill all of the bacteria it targets. The surviving bacterium then becomes resistant to that particular drug.

At this point, a stronger antibiotic is often prescribed �?only to have the bacteria learn to resist the more potent drug as well. A vicious cycle has begun, in which increasingly powerful drugs are needed to treat infections.

And that's not all. Superbugs can actually pass on survival information to other bacteria �?even different species �?allowing more drug-resistant organisms to emerge.

The bottom line: many infections once thought conquered are coming back because of this super breed of germs. Increasingly, superbugs are emerging in hospitals, day care centres, schools and cruise ships.

In fact, researchers estimate that there are two million cases of antibiotic-resistant infection in hospitals that kill approximately 70,000 people annually in North America. Hospital-based methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) alone causes an estimated 100,000 difficult-to-treat infections annually. The super germ has increasingly moved beyond hospitals and has made its way into the community.

"These superbugs have made their way into the day-to-day lives of regular people," Dr. George Zhanel, professor of medical microbiology at the University of Manitoba told CanWest News Service. "They're just out there on the streets."

According to the Canadian Medical Association Journal, CA-MRSA can cause lesions and boils, pneumonia or �?in rare cases �?flesh-eating disease. In a recent report in the journal, health officials warned that the super-bug is poised to sweep across the country.

MRSA has also been found in pets, such as dogs, cats and rabbits. Because germs can move easily between pets, people and other animals, pets can become a reservoir of infection. Experts say that doctors treating people with MRSA should also look at household pets, particularly if re-infection occurs.

Superbug hit list: Major offenders
Clostridium difficile
Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) causes diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, cramping and more serious intestinal conditions such as colitis. Some people also develop pseudomembranous colitis, which is a severe inflammation of the colon.

Most people develop C.difficile during or after being treated with antibiotics because the drugs alter the normal levels of good bacteria in the intestine and colon. The elderly and people who take antibiotics for prolonged periods are most at risk.

Symptoms include watery diarrhea, fever (often greater than 101 F), abdominal pain, nausea and dehydration.

For more information: [http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/id_Cdiff.html]

CA-MRSA
Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to as "staph," are commonly found on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Approximately 25 to 30 per cent of the population is colonized (when bacteria are present, but not causing an infection) in the nose with staph bacteria. Staph infections occur when the bacteria enters the skin through an open cut or sore.

Staph bacteria, including MRSA, can cause skin infections that may look like a pimple, a boil, or an insect bite. Infected areas may be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage. More serious infections can cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, toxic shock syndrome, or surgical wound infections.

The majority of MRSA infections occur among patients in hospitals or other healthcare settings. The spread of the superbug, however, is becoming more common in the community setting.

To prevent infection, practice good hygiene by:
1. Keeping your hands clean. Wash thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
2. Making sure all cuts and scrapes are kept clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
3. Avoiding contact with other people's wounds or bandages.
4. Not sharing personal items such as towels or razors.

For more information: [http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca_public.html]

Other culprits
E. coli, a major cause of wound, urinary and gastrointestinal tract infections is also resistant to a growing number of drugs. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, one in 20 E. coli infections in intensive care units are now virtually untreatable.

And the emergence of drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis throughout the world is a far greater risk to human health than medical experts had thought, a Stanford University study reported last year.
Another drug-resistant bacterium, pseudomonas aeruginosa is the leading cause of death in cystic fibrosis patients. The bug can also cause life-threatening pneumonia and post-surgery infections.

Military health officials report that soldiers injured in Afghanistan and the Iraq/Kuwait region are being infected with the highly resistant bacteria acinetobacter baumannii. This has been identified with a rise in pneumonia in hospitals.

Hand washing: A simple way to prevent infection
The best way to prevent infection is to use good hand washing techniques. Health officials say it is best to wash your hands with soap and water or to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Antimicrobial wipes or towelettes are just as effective as soap and water in cleaning your hands but aren't as good as alcohol-based sanitizers.

While antibacterial soaps have become popular in recent years, these soaps are no more effective at killing germs than regular soap and water. And using these soaps could lead to the development of bacteria that are resistant to the products' antimicrobial agents �?making it even harder to kill these germs in the future.

Tips for proper hand washing with soap and water
The Mayo Clinic offers these instructions for washing with soap and water:
�?Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid or clean bar soap. Lather well.
�?Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 seconds.
�?Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
�?Rinse well.
�?Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.
�?Use a towel to turn off the faucet.

To use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:
�?Apply about 1/2 tsp of the product to the palm of your hand.
�?Rub your hands together, covering all surfaces of your hands, until they're dry.

If your hands are visibly dirty, however, wash with soap and water rather than a sanitizer.

Sources: U.S. Centers for Disease Control; Mayo Clinic; Public Health Agency of Canada.

From [http://healthandfitness.sympatico.msn.ca]