A human superbug

Staphylococcus aureus is an important member of bacteria which are normally present on human skin. Normally this organism is not harming the human but when got a chance may causes skin problems such as boils, abscesses and blisters. It is also responsible for other infections such as bacteremia, central nervous system infections, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, chronic lung infections, food poisoning, scalded skin syndrome, and toxic shock syndrome. The organism is also responsible for causing hospital and community acquired infections. The organism is present in nasal passage of 30 % adults while 20% humans carry it as persistent bacteria. It is responsible for causing 32 – 47 % disease of skin and soft tissues.
The current practice of controlling this organism is by the use of antibiotics. Being Gram positive bacteria, this organism responds well to Penicillin and other Beta lactam antibiotics. Because of irrational use of antibiotics in human practice in developing countries especially in Pakistan, the organism has now become resistant not only to Penicillin and similar class of antibiotics but also to other classes resulting in development of “Superbug”. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of S aureus which has established resistance to penicillin (oxacillin, methicillin and dicloxacillin, etc) and similar class of antibiotics (cephalosporins). Development of resistance to methicillin is acquired resistance and is due to evolutionary process. Treatment of these resistant bacteria by commonly used antibiotics has become a challenge to healthcare workers.
Studies indicate that incidence of MRSA is increasing globally which is hindrance factor in controlling the problem. Its incidence in Pakistan is 2 – 61 %. As MRSA is hospital acquired (nosocomial) infection, so the patients having skin problems may get infected with MRSA more easily than healthy person. People with burn skin are major victim of this bacterium and burn units may be a reservoir of this organism.
In order to control MRSA, vancomycin a glycopeptide antibiotic has been extensively practiced because it is the solitary predictable active antibiotic against all isolates of S. aureus, and MRSA. Recently situation is terrified with the discovery of vancomycin intermediate S aureus (VISA) and vancomycin resistant S aureus (VRSA) in diffent parts of the world.
This drastically increasing resistance to antimicrobial drugs makes S. aureus a highly hazardous pathogen and it is becoming truly thought provoking for the world of science. An immediate innovation is required in the field of medicine to give a drug of choice for this resistant customer; so that it’s continuously increasing incidence among our population could be prohibited.