Drug-Resistant Bacteria: Now People Are Paying Attention
For years, advocacy groups, physicians, public health officials and others have been crying out about the overuse of antibiotics and the growing threat of drug resistant bacteria. This month, their warnings are being heeded, but at great cost.
Today we learned that a 12-year-old boy died earlier this month from a drug-resistant bacterial infection, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA.
In fact, drug-resistant bacteria has become a major problem in hospitals and nursing homes, where providers and patients exchange opportunistic bacteria. In the past, I’ve been involved with public health campaigns designed to bring home the message that appropriate antibiotic use is a must. This effort was a modest success. The sliver lining to this tragedy is that people are more aware of the dangers of antibiotic resistant bacteria and will take steps to protect themselves and their families.
To read more about this subject on this blog and elsewhere, please click the following links.
Antibiotics, Clinical Trials & More: An Interview With The FDA’s John Powers, MD
Questions and Answers about Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Schools (CDC.gov)
