Healthcare Acquired Infections: the Fight Against Superbugs
 

Health Issue
Infections acquired while being in healthcare facilities has been the focus of increasing attention among the public, healthcare providers, policy makers, and the media. Increasing global trends of prescribing antimicrobials in the past decades may lead to the emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria. New tools are being developed to identify potentially resistant strains, and to develop appropriate control strategies.

Recent News Articles
1 in 12 Canadian Adults in Hospital Have Superbug: Study
Survey of 176 acute-care hospitals looked at MRSA, VRE and C. difficile
Sheryl Ubelacker, the Canadian Press, May 13, 2013
[Link to the article]

C. diff numbers down slightly 
Chris Hofley, the Ottawa Sun, May 10, 2013
[Link to the article]

Superbugs: Why we should fear them
Jennifer Yang, Toronto Star, April 29, 2013
[Link to the article]

Hospitals see wave of products to fight superbugs; penalties loom if patients catch infections
Mike Stobbe, the Associated Press, April 29, 2013
[Link to the article]

                               
Useful Links
World Health Organization - Antimicrobial Resistance Information Bank 

Public Health Agency of Canada-Infection Prevention and Control Guideline for the Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Pneumonia

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health

United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System

Public Health Ontario - Infection Prevention and Control Programs in Ontario

Further Readings
Woodford, N. and D. M. Livermore (2009). "Infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria: a review of the global challenge." J Infect 59 Suppl 1: S4-16.

Suthar, S. K., et al. (2012). "Superbug NDM-1: A global health problem." Der Pharmacia Lettre 4(4): 1183-1187.

Santamour, B. (2008). "As a superbug spreads, so does misinformation." Hosp Health Netw 82(5): 36-40, 32.

Philippidis, A. (2012). "Policy makers seek to fortify superbug research." Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News 32(8): 46-49.

Ippolito, G., et al. (2010). "Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: the superbug." International Journal of Infectious Diseases 14(SUPPL. 4): S7-S11.

Ghafur, A. (2013). "Call for global action to halt the superbug." Medical Journal of Australia 198(5): 251

Chen, L. F. (2013). "The changing epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: 50 years of a superbug." American Journal of Infection Control 41(5): 448-451.