Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
Incidence of MRSA bacterial infection increases among Danes
Published on September 19, 2013
In 2012, 1,556 Danes were found positive with methicillin-resistant staphylococci - MRSA. This represents an increase of 20% from 2011. In fact, the total number of cases has almost doubled since 2009. MRSA bacteria are resistant to antimicrobial agents that are essential for treatment of treating life-threatening infections in humans.
Otherwise healthy people may carry MRSA without showing any symptoms or signs of infection. The problem with people who are carrying MRSA is that the bacteria can spread at hospitals if not discovered in time. Of the 1,556 people positive, 54% had an infection when MRSA was identified. In immunosuppressed people or hospitalized patients, MRSA can lead to serious infections.
As in previous years, the number of hospital acquired cases continued to be very low: 67 in 2012 compared to 58 in 2011. In contrast, the number of community-acquired MRSA rose from 596 in 2011 to 726 in 2012. Community acquired cases were often seen in connection with family visits abroad, receiving family visitors from abroad, or working in the pig farms.
The pig-related MRSA - also known as CC398 - was identified in 232 people (164 in 2011), of whom 92 had an infection at the time of diagnosis (63 in 2011).
"The continued increase in the number of cases of MRSA, particularly in people who are in contact with pigfarms, causes problems both for those affected and for the healthcare system," explains Areahead, MD Robert Skov from Statens Serum Institut.
Read more : news-medical
Published on September 19, 2013
In 2012, 1,556 Danes were found positive with methicillin-resistant staphylococci - MRSA. This represents an increase of 20% from 2011. In fact, the total number of cases has almost doubled since 2009. MRSA bacteria are resistant to antimicrobial agents that are essential for treatment of treating life-threatening infections in humans.
Otherwise healthy people may carry MRSA without showing any symptoms or signs of infection. The problem with people who are carrying MRSA is that the bacteria can spread at hospitals if not discovered in time. Of the 1,556 people positive, 54% had an infection when MRSA was identified. In immunosuppressed people or hospitalized patients, MRSA can lead to serious infections.
As in previous years, the number of hospital acquired cases continued to be very low: 67 in 2012 compared to 58 in 2011. In contrast, the number of community-acquired MRSA rose from 596 in 2011 to 726 in 2012. Community acquired cases were often seen in connection with family visits abroad, receiving family visitors from abroad, or working in the pig farms.
The pig-related MRSA - also known as CC398 - was identified in 232 people (164 in 2011), of whom 92 had an infection at the time of diagnosis (63 in 2011).
"The continued increase in the number of cases of MRSA, particularly in people who are in contact with pigfarms, causes problems both for those affected and for the healthcare system," explains Areahead, MD Robert Skov from Statens Serum Institut.
Read more : news-medical