Posted on 01/28/2007 4:09:37 PM PST by blam
Source: Texas A&M Health Science Center
Date: January 28, 2007
Bacteria In Staph Infections Can Cause Necrotizing Pneumonia
Science Daily — Researchers at the Texas A&M Health Science Center Institute of Biosciences and Technology at Houston have discovered a toxin present in the bacteria responsible for the current nationwide outbreak of staph infections also has a role in an aggressive pneumonia that is often fatal within 72 hours.
"The virulence of CA-MRSA (community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) strains that produce the PVL (Panton Valentine leukocidin) toxin presents a nightmare scenario," said M. Gabriela Bowden, Ph.D., research assistant professor at HSC-IBT and co-senior author. "If the community-acquired strain establishes itself in the hospital setting, it will be difficult to contain."
The most common cause of staph infections, S. aureus is a bacteria found on the skin or in the nose of about 25-30 percent of people. It also can be the culprit in minor skin infections like pimples and boils, as well as major diseases like meningitis, endocarditis, toxic shock syndrome and pneumonia.
In their study, Dr. Bowden and her colleagues at the HSC-IBT Center for Extracellular Matrix Biology used mice to analyze S. aureus Panton Valentine leukocidin (PVL), a pore-forming toxin secreted by bacterial strains associated with both the current outbreak of CA-MRSA and necrotizing pneumonia.
CA-MRSA causes serious skin and soft tissue infections in healthy persons who have not been recently hospitalized or undergone invasive medical procedures, while necrotizing pneumonia destroys healthy lung tissue and can be fatal within 72 hours. With the PVL toxin, the bacterium also attacks infection-fighting white blood cells (leukocytes).
In the 1940s, the high mortality rate from S. aureus was abated by penicillin, but the bacteria soon developed a resistance. Methicillin provided new treatment options for infections in the late 1950s, but as of the late 1990s, it has become resistant.
In December, the United Kingdom had its first documented report of fatal necrotizing pneumonia cases caused by PVL-positive CA-MRSA. Eight hospitalized patients developed infections from CA-MRSA, and two died. It was previously believed the hospitals were free of these virulent strains of CA-MRSA.
Testing several bacterial strains, the HSC-IBT researchers learned PVL itself has an enhanced ability to disrupt cells in the body, and PVL-positive S. aureus has a greater capacity to attach to and colonize the lung, the latter resulting in necrotizing pneumonia.
"Our research shows in vivo that PVL is sufficient to cause pneumonia," Dr. Bowden said. "PVL-producing S. aureus overexpress other factors that enhance inflammation and bacterial attachment to the lung. These combined effects result in a vicious cycle of tissue destruction and inflammation, explaining the rapid onset and lethal outcome of this type of pneumonia."
Using these findings, the next step is additional studies to identify targets for potential development of therapies to treat S. aureus infections, including the PVL-positive strain.
"The present study underscores the aggressiveness of these strains and the urgent need to develop new strategies to battle these infections," Dr. Bowden said.
Other Science Express study contributors from the Center for Extracellular Matrix Biology were Magnus Höök, Ph.D., director and professor; Eric Brown, Ph.D., assistant professor (now at The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston); Maria Labanderia-Rey, postdoctoral fellow; Vanessa Vazquez, graduate student; and Elena Barbu, graduate student. Florence Couzon, Sandrine Boisset, Michele Bes, Yvonne Benito, Jerome Etienne and François Vandenesch from the University of Lyon and Hospices Civils de Lyon (France) also contributed.
Grants from the HSC, French Ministry of Research, National Institutes of Health, and Neva and Wesley West and Hamill Foundations supported this research.
The Texas A&M Health Science Center provides the state with health education, outreach and research. Its six components located in communities throughout Texas are Baylor College of Dentistry, the College of Medicine, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the Institute of Biosciences and Technology, the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, and the School of Rural Public Health.
Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Texas A&M Health Science Center.
Thanks for posting. Thanks to all contributors to this thread. BTTT!
You said -- "I can't figure out where I got it."
Perhaps you're in the 25-30 percent --
"The most common cause of staph infections, S. aureus is a bacteria found on the skin or in the nose of about 25-30 percent of people."
And you rubbed your nose...
Regards,
Star Traveler
They'd do well to replace all that stainless steel with copper or copper-bearing alloy for counters, sinks, faucets, doorhandles, etc. A copper bearing surface is a hostile environment to MRSA and many other bacterial pathogens.
Thanks....It took a long time for my Mom to pass. Despite her wishes my father and sister kept her on life support for a long time. Since she had Dementia and other health problems.... there was no quality of life anyway. She had been like that for many years. It was very heartbreaking and I wish she had made a living will. My brother and my wishes didn't matter......My daughter is in England studying so I assume things are well so far for her. I hope all is well with your family also. ~~Pandora~~
To me the answers are clearly procedural. Anti-bacterial measures during hospital admittance, the return of the "house call", and probably numerous other common-sense measures.
that said, hyperbaric oxygen therapy requires that she goes into a dive tank of sorts (used to treat the bends in divers) depending where you are, they usually are outpatient deals and in major cities. You can't lose anything if you bring it up to the doc, or write a note on a post-it and ask the nurse to put it on your wife's chart (that works great too)
Godspeed
She probably NEVER had ANY spider bites.... it was all MSRA. One of the most common initial symptoms of MSRA are unexplained "spider bites" on the skin - usually mis-diagnosed by Doctors.
see my post above to ga medic
And Merck doesn't give free lunches to docs because they like them... fyi
Haven't had one since.
When I went to the Doc the first time around, he said I was the 3rd case THAT day who had a staph infection. Geesh.
You are right - antibacterial soaps are bad. These super-resistant bacteria and virus strains are not resistant to hydrogen peroxide nor are they resistant to colloidal silver. There are also many natural and herbal remedies for stuff that are better than the antibiotics that cause the mutated resistant strains.
I have also read some data that indicates that application of maggots early on can significantly reduce the length and amount of damage from the attack.
I had never thought of the dog thing. I'll try it next time doggy needs a bath. Thanks!
I have an engineering back round. When engineers are presented with new data they act on it. The very fact that mainstream medicine has FAILED to even seriously study TTO is what they should be ashamed of. IF somebody walked into my hospital and offered me a 41% cure for a disease that is rapidly becoming "incurable" I would investigate it IMMEDIATELY!
Suppose you could reduce plane or car crashes by 41%. The Gvmnt and the public would crucify you if you didn't do it.
I do not mean any insult of medical workers. Management at many institutions that is the problem and if you think medicine is purely about high ideals and not profit I have some waterfront property to sell you.
Where the hell do you think medical personnel put themselves and their families when they are sick? In hospitals that deliberately, through omission or commission, turn a blind eye to these infections so they can generate revenue? And that rebuttal doesn't take into account what kind of person would do something like that. Methinks you're projecting your own motivations.
I could give you a lesson in medical economics (you're right about overpriced Tylenol), but your psychology makes it hopeless. Say all you want. I've responded all I will.
My wife had a Urostomy and Colostomy done two and a half years ago. A year and a half ago she got real sick over a two day period. I called her Urologist and went to the drug store to get an antibiotic. When I returned her breathing was much worse so we went tot the ER. Our Primary Care Physican happened to be making rounds and the ER doc called him down to look at her.
He had a somber look but put her in the hospital and on some IV's for about a week. She's doing fine. UTI's can cause punemonia and even CHF if it goes too long and many patients don't realize it. I didn't realize it and I've been her caregiver 21 years and dealt with many UTI's in that time with her. You and her are in my prayers.
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