Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

December 2, 2008 10:53:10 AM CST

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

New E. coli Strains Could Spell Epidemic

Posted Feb 19, 08 12:57 PM CST in Science & Health 

(Newser) – New drug-resistant strains of E. coli have doctors worried that the mutant bacteria could become a superbug to rival MRSA, the drug-resistant form of staphylococcus that kills hundreds hospital patients each year, the Daily Telegraph reports. The spread of the new E.coli strains must be carefully tracked to avoid an epidemic, Canadian scientists write in a new paper.

Funding is needed to figure out which strains are causing the most deadly infections, aiding development of more effective, targeted antibiotics, the research team says. The elderly are most at risk, especially those in hospitals and nursing homes, where such bugs can spread rapidly. The big worry is that the bacteria will spread into the general public, as MRSA has recently done.

Sources Daily Telegraph (UK), BBC

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Screening Isn't Slowing Staph: Study

    Mar 12, 08 11:09 AM CDT
    Screening Isn't Slowing Staph: Study Widespread screening of hospital patients for the drug-resistant staph bacteria MRSA doesn’t appear to reduce the number of infections, a new study finds. Swiss researchers screened more than 10,000 patients for the superbug when they were admitted to the University of Geneva Hospitals. Another 10,000 weren’t tested. The rates of MRSA infections were similar for both groups, the Chicago Tribune reports.  More »

Kevin Kowalyck died at age 2 of an E. coli infection from hamburger. If the new, antibiotic-resistant straings of E. coli start spreading outside of hospitals, many other children will be at risk.   (KRT Photos)
Workers keep the chicken meat cold to avoid bacteria growth in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania. The fact that resistant forms of E. coli are being found in otherwise healthy patients means they're not just...   (KRT Photos)
E. coli bacteria such as these have been evolving to be resistant to common antibiotics and are showing up outside of hospitals, circumstances that could set off an epidemic, researchers say.   (Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 3)

Tags

epidemic • E. coli • superbug • MRSA • food poisoning • drug-resistant bacteria • stomach bug


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Science & Health Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser a team of editors and writers culls the most important stories from hundreds of U.S. and international sources and reduces them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. It's the Newser guarantee: we can take any report or column or video and pack what you need to know into 120 words or less. Newser's short-form aggregation, visual format, and unique information tools help you get more of the kind of news you want, in a quicker and more entertaining way. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »