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Dangerous Staph Germs Found at US Beaches

Bacteria cause nasty skin infections and pneumonia

By the Associated Press

Posted Sep 12, 2009 5:37 PM CDT
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(AP) – Dangerous staph bacteria have been found in sand and water for the first time at five public beaches along the coast of Washington, and scientists think the state is not the only one with this problem. The germ is MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus—a hard-to-treat bug once rarely seen outside of hospitals but that increasingly is spreading in ordinary community settings such as schools, locker rooms and gyms.  

The germ causes nasty skin infections as well as pneumonia and other life-threatening problems. It spreads mostly through human contact. Finding it at the beach suggests one place that people may be picking it up, one expert says: "We don't know the risk" for any individual going to a beach, "but the fact that we found these organisms suggests that the level is much higher than we had thought." Beachgoers are advised to cover cuts or scrapes before digging in sand, and wash off afterwards.

Michael Landman rolls along the sand as he does his morning exercise as the sun rises over the beach July 25, 2007 in Miami Beach, Fla.
Michael Landman rolls along the sand as he does his morning exercise as the sun rises over the beach July 25, 2007 in Miami Beach, Fla.   (Getty Images)
A view of the South Beach area of Miami Beach, Fla., is shown as local residents and tourists enjoy a day at the beach.
A view of the South Beach area of Miami Beach, Fla., is shown as local residents and tourists enjoy a day at the beach.   (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
  (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
passinthru
Sep 12, 2009 11:55 AM CDT
WHOA WAIT A MINUTE...you mean theres germs in the worlds biggest toliet?
Jojo
Sep 12, 2009 10:57 AM CDT
Hopefully medical research will evolve and find something stronger than anitibiotics that will work on it. They seriously need to start filtering water and water treatment plants though - this stuff about testing water all over the country and finding it full of prescription drugs is as scary as MRSA.

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Science • US

 
beach • staph infections • infection • sand

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