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A new study finds that secondary infection with the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacterium or "superbug" often kills patients suffering from influenza because the flu virus alters the antibacterial response of white blood cells. The study published online Monday, further states that that the antibacterial response of white blood cells leads to damaging the patients' lungs instead of destroying the bacterium.
The study, which is published online ahead of issue in The Journal of Experimental Medicine, suggests that preventing this response could help treat patients infected with both the flu virus and MRSA. The secondary infections with MRSA also cause severe pneumonia in many influenza patients. According to researchers, over half of these patients die, even after being treated with antibiotics that are usually capable of clearing MRSA infections.
The study, which is published online ahead of issue in The Journal of Experimental Medicine, suggests that preventing this response could help treat patients infected with both the flu virus and MRSA. The secondary infections with MRSA also cause severe pneumonia in many influenza patients. According to researchers, over half of these patients die, even after being treated with antibiotics that are usually capable of clearing MRSA infections.
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