MRSA on the rise in the community

New Queensland research shows a three to eight fold increase over seven years of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in the community.

The more well-known MRSA superbugs found in hospitals generally infect the young and old. But this research refers to so-called non-multiresistant forms of MRSA.

These can infect other age groups in the community and are generally more susceptible to antibiotics than their hospital-acquired counterparts.

What commonly starts as boils in otherwise healthy people, can if untreated, progress to life-threatening pneumonia or bone destruction, says director of microbiology with Pathology Queensland, Associate Professor Graeme Nimmo.

He told the Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases annual scientific meeting that a national public health approach is needed and non-multiresistant MRSA should be notifiable so health authorities can treat contacts.

There is a danger that community strains will become resistant to multiple types of antibiotics as has happened in the US. Its extremely virulent USA300 strain has already arrived in Australia, Ass ProfNimmo says.