|
|
|
Updated: 1:02 PM Oct 19, 2007
Staph infections could kill more people than AIDS
MRSA is a bacterial infection that's spread through person-to-person contact. It's been around for 40 years, but now it's mutated into a more dangerous form.
Posted: 10:51 PM Oct 18, 2007Reporter: Jessica Floyd Email Address: jessica.floyd@wrdw.com |
|
1 Comments 
Photos 
News 12 at 11 o'clock, October 18, 2007
AUGUSTA, Ga. - Researchers say MRSA could kill more people than the AIDS virus.
A 17-year-old Virginia high school football player died due to MRSA. It's a bacterial infection that's spread through person-to-person contact.
The bacteria lives on the skin of many people, but if it gets into the blood stream, it can be deadly.
"This is a new bug that is in the general public population and can be acquired by anyone," says Dr. Jim Wilde who's been studying the invasive bacteria.
Wilde says anyone can get it, no matter what their age, gender or medical history. MRSA has been around for forty years, but over time it's mutated into a more dangerous form.
"The new MRSA strain has acquired a gene that allows it to burrow under the skin and cause a pocket of pus, which is what an abscess, to form," says Dr. Wilde.
And if the infection spreads into the blood stream it can be deadly.
"More and more we're seeing these infections go from being localized to an abscess of a skin infection to being invasive infections that's causing blood stream infection, meningitis, pneumonia, bone infection," says Wilde, "And those systematic infections are much, much more dangerous than skin infections."
Researchers estimate about 19,000 people will die this year from MRSA infections. They say the key to protecting yourself is washing your hands frequently and not sharing personal items like clothes, uniforms, towels and razors.
- UPDATE: Man found naked, shot after possible sexual assault
- People scramble to reschedule events after popular South Carolina vacation resort closes
- Research assistant at MCG arrested
- Senate clears way for local street races in Ga.
- Man hurt on railroad tracks in Bath area
- Students to be dismissed early on April 1
- Man pleads guilty to killing his brother
- Richmond County changes testing procedure after CRCT investigation
- Man arrested for rape and kidnapping in Columbia County
- On Your Side: IRS conducting undercover tax prep fraud investigation in Augusta
- Georgia lawmaker wants drug tests for aid recipients
11 Comments - Man hurt on railroad tracks in Bath area
8 Comments - Aiken man arrested for sub station burglary
7 Comments - Golf enthusiasts react to Tiger Wood's career relaunched at the Masters
5 Comments - On Your Side: IRS conducting undercover tax prep fraud investigation in Augusta
5 Comments - Research assistant at MCG arrested
4 Comments
| Online Poll |
- Hilltop Riding Stables Ribbon Cutting
- SOA Pops! at the Bell presents AIR SUPPLY
- Shoe Drive to Benefit Haiti
- DuPont Planetarium Saturday Nights!
- March is Social Work Month
- Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art Davidson Fine Arts Rising Senior Exhibition
- Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art 4th Spring Artists' Market and Festival
- Umpire Recruiting
- FREE Personal Finance Classes
- American Red Cross of Augusta CPR Classes
- Aiken County Commission for Disabilites Scholarship Opportunity
- AARP Tax Aide offering FREE Tax Help
- Columbia County Library's "Books Alive" Book Fair
- Women Veteran Club
- Amputee Support Group:Walton Rehabilitation
- Spinal Cord Injury Support Group: Walton Rehabilitation Health System
| Maxing Your Money Blog |
