MRSA REMAINS A GREAT PRIORITY DUE TO THE TREMENDOUS MORTALITY --- A BIRD'S EYE VIEW

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is difcult to treat with methicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin, oxacillin, and other commonly used antibiotics because of its resistance. Staphylococcus organisms rapidly develop drug resistance as many as 50% of the domiciliary and 80% of the hospital strains are now penicillin resistant. Staphylococcus aureus also show multiple drug resistance. Therefore, Staphylococcal isolates should always be tested for antimicrobial sensitivity and chronic infection should be treated by more than one drug. Before 1960,when methicillin, is the rst penicillin's-resistant penicillin's, was brought into use, about 1%of the strains of the Staphylococcus aureus were "methicillin resistant" and by 1970 in Britain their proportion has risen to about 5%.These strains are tolerant of, low therapeutic concentrations of methicillin, cloxacillin, benzyl penicillin and ampicillin.They do not destroy methicillin and cloxacillin, but most of them are penicillinase-producing as well as being "methicillin resistant" and therefore inactivate benzyl penicillin and ampicillin. Its resistance is uncertain since infections may be cured with a high dose of methicillin.