MRSA Research Identifies New Class of Anti-Bacterial Drugs, Shows How 'Superbug' DNA May Help ...

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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120928125105.htm

MRSA Research Identifies New Class of Anti-Bacterial Drugs, Shows How 'Superbug' DNA May Help Scientists Predict Transmission Routes

ScienceDaily (Sep. 28, 2012) — Researchers at The Ohio State University have discovered a new class of treatment against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as well as evidence of a growing need to quickly genotype individual strains of the organism most commonly referred to as the "superbug."

The two separate studies were funded by the Ohio State Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) with a goal of increasing the MRSA knowledge-base from both a basic science "bench" perspective, as well as using real-time data from infected communities to determine how MRSA spreads.

"The public is most familiar with the dramatic progression of skin infections caused by MRSA, but MRSA is responsible for a range of difficult to treat illnesses," noted Dr. Kurt B. Stevenson, professor of Infectious Diseases at the Ohio State College of Medicine, and primary investigator of the CCTS-funded study following the transmission of MRSA infections in communities. "While we've seen a decrease in the number of MRSA cases, identifying new agents and tracking methods will be critical to stopping these infections before they can start."