Tip Sheets
Primer on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Maryn McKenna, a freelance journalist and author and a contributing writer at the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy who is writing a book on drug-resistant staph, prepared this comprehensive primer for AHCJ members. It covers the science and history of MRSA, as well as treatment, drug development and reporting legislation. McKenna includes a thorough bibliography.
Table of contents
Chapter 1: History
Basics about staph
Emergence of hospital-acquired MRSA
Outbreaks
Identifying the strain
Emergence of community-associated MRSA
Outbreaks
Identifying the strain
Chapter 2: The current situation
How much MRSA is there?
Recent HA-MRSA findings
Recent CA-MRSA findings
Chapter 3: Recognition and diagnosis
Chapter 4: Treatment and drug development
Uncomplicated infections
Invasive infections
Drug conservation
Research activism
Vaccine prospects
Chapter 5: Current controversies and issues
Prevention and control in hospitals
Active surveillance
Mandated screening and reporting
Animal reservoirs
Athletics and cleanliness
Bibliography
Maryn McKenna is a freelance journalist and author and a contributing writer at the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. Her book on drug-resistant staph will be published by Free Press in 2009. McKenna writes about MRSA on her blog, Superbug.