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  2. The Piggy MRSA Is in Hospitals

The Piggy MRSA Is in Hospitals

By mikethemadbiologist on June 16, 2008.

ST398piggies

I've been saying for a while now that the 'piggy MRSA*', known as ST398, is going to be a problem. Always listen to the Mad Biologist.

Last week, I was talking to someone who is monitoring MRSA in the New York area, and they've seen two cases of ST398 MRSA in hospitals. This really shouldn't come as a surprise since ST398 is sweeping through the swine population. The only question now is will ST398 simply replace the predominant MRSA strains, or will it add to the total number of MRSA infections and deaths.

Of course, those aren't mutually exclusive possibilities...

*MRSA is methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and is only reliably treated with vancomycin.

Update: I've had this confirmed by another person. Ugh.

Tags
antibiotics
microbiology
MRSA
public health
We're Really Fucked

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THAT'll teach 'em to have pig races in the ICU...I don't think that counts as 'pet therapy'.

Or, "Never shake hands with pig farmer until you've seen them douse with mupirocin"

Or "See, I TOLD you it was a bad idea to have a pig for a pet"

If only it was that funny a situation.....

By Chromosome Crawl (not verified) on 16 Jun 2008 #permalink

awwwww ... they're so cute!

Thank you very much for this useful article and the comments.
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Leonard The Magazine Stundent at 9 Eylul University sohbet