Guide Note

A Superbug is an antibiotic resistant strain of bacteria.

A superbug can be spread from person to person contact or by contaminated items. If left untreated a superbug can result in severe consequences and even death.

Fast Facts

Are Drug-Resistant Bacteria
Responds to only a limited number of antibiotics
More prevalent then once thought
Antibiotic overuse causes more superbugs
More common in hospitals and nursing homes
MRSA often starts as a small bump like a pimple, boil or spider bite
Sometimes infects surgical wounds
If in the lungs it causes shortness of breath, fever and chills
Prevention: Wash hands often, keep wounds covered
Treatment: Draining the abscess, some antibiotics

MRSA

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus is commonly referred to as a superbug. The bacterial staph infection was linked to 19,000 deaths in 2005.

C-diff

C-diff or Clostridium Difficile is another antibiotic resistant superbug. The germ causes intestinal symptoms including colitis and diarrhea. The germ has become resistant to some antibiotics. A research paper published in the CDC's June, 2008 issue of "Emerging Infectious Diseases", scientists' estimate C-diff is a growing concern.

Disclaimer

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for more information regarding Superbugs.

Categories

Health | Health News

View Note History

Superbug

Also try: MRSA - Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus | Antibiotic Resistance | Bacteria

The Mahalo Top 7

Wikipedia: Antibiotic Resistance
HealthLink: Antibiotic Resistant "Superbug" on the Rise
MedicineNet.com: Superbug Staph Spread in Community
Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Miracle Drugs vs. Superbugs (Antibiotics)
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC): Superbugs Protecting the Power of Antibiotics
ABC News: Deadly Gut Superbug on the Rise in U.S. (May 28, 2008)
Time Magazine: Gut Superbug Causing More Deaths (May 28, 2008)

Superbug News

Google News: Superbug Search
CBS News: New Intestinal Superbug On The Rise, Study Shows Cases Of Antibiotic-Resistant ... (May 28, 2008)
HealthDay: Gator Blood May Be New Source of Antibiotics (April 7, 2008)
FOXNews.com: Study: Alligator Blood Could Take Bite Out of Drug-Resistant Staph Infection (April 7, 2008)
HealthDay: Mud Harnessed to Fight Infections (April 6, 2008)
HealthDay: Green Tea Boosts Antibiotics for Superbugs (March 31, 2008)
HealthDay: Some Facelift Patients Infected With MRSA Superbug (March 21, 2008)
Los Angeles Times: Superbug staph screening praised (March 18, 2008)'
HealthDay: Woman and Cat Shared 'Super Bug' (March 12, 2008)
ABC News: Deadly Superbug Evades Hospital Screening (March 11, 2008)
HealthDay: Drug-Resistant Staph a Widespread Threat (October 16, 2007)
HealthDay: Ear Infections Linked to Drug-Resistant 'Superbug' (October 16, 2007)
LiveScience: Pets Might Pack Deadly Human Bacteria (July 31, 2007)
MSNBC.com: Superbugs more widespread than thought (June 24, 2007)
BBC News: MRSA superbug hits more children (March 22, 2004)
Guardian Unlimited: Existing drug will cure hospital superbug MRSA, say scientists (January 19, 2007)
LiveScience: Rise of Deadly Superbugs should 'Raise Red Flags' Everywhere (May 9, 2005)
CBS News: Super-Resistant Superbugs (May 2, 2004)

Superbug Facts and Information

Yahoo! News: SuperBug on 60 Minutes (December 5, 2007)
Millions of Germs Will Die: Superbugs: The Facts
MayoClinic.com: Antibiotics: Too Much of a Good Thing
Science Creative Quarterly: Attack of the Superbugs: Antibiotic Resistance
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE): Superbugs: The Role of Cleaning and Infection Control
Live Science: The Truth About Deadly Superbugs

Superbug Treatment Options

EurekAlert!: Developing kryptonite for Superbug (November 8, 2007)
Times Online: Scientists return to 'virus' therapy to fight superbugs (August 14, 2007)
BBC News: Instant steam could banish MRSA (July 29, 2007)
Scientific American: Disrupt an Enzyme, Destroy Drug-Resistant Superbugs (July 10, 2007)
LabNews: Breath of fresh air for superbug treatment
Canada.com: Superbug treatment gets Health Canada approval

Superbug Prevention

CDC: Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work

Superbug Clinical Studies and Research

PubMed Central Search: Superbug
Google Scholar Search: Superbug
PubMed Central: The Staphylococcus aureus "superbug" (December 15, 2004)

Superbug Discussion and Blogs

MRSA Discussion Forum
Bear Creek Ledger: MRSA - It’s Nasty (June 25, 2007)

Related Searches

MRSA - Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus | Antibiotic Resistance | Antibiotics | Bacteria | Bacterial Infections | Ashton Bonds | Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) | Strep Throat | Staph Infection | Pneumonia | How to Treat a Boil