MRSA and Other Antibiotic-Resistant Microbes: An Infectious Crisis
Most of us know someone who has been afflicted with an antibiotic-resistant infection. And the prevalence of this type of infection is growing; in fact, MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is currently killing U.S. patients at a rate of 19,000 annually–more than the number of Americans who die each year from AIDS. It is a serious and deadly healthcare crisis that has alarmed not only the public, but also the most seasoned medical professionals.
MRSA is rapidly becoming the rule rather than the exception. Hospital staff, veterinary staff, and nursing home residents have MRSA colonization rates as high as 15%. MRSA tends to be much more common in: 1) clinical environments; 2) patients who are exposed to frequent antibiotic use; and 3) athletes involved in contact sports. MRSA is resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics including methicillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. Staphylococci are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the U.S., and they can also cause to serious wound infections, bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and infections related to implanted medical devices. Microbion’s bismuth-thiols (BTs) are highly potent against MRSA, and are being developed to prevent microbial contamination of medical devices.
Adding Insult to Injury: Infections Pose Serious Risks to Our Wounded Soldiers
Infections are a leading complication of traumatic wounds, posing serious risks to both life and limb. Infection is the most common cause of delayed amputation in open tibial fractures sustained in combat, where the risk of wound contamination is high. Infection rates of up to 23% are known to impact those with serious lower extremity wounds, even when treated in modern civilian hospitals and in relatively ideal circumstances. Microbion is currently developing products to reduce military wound-associated infections through a federal grant.
Medical Device Contamination
by Microbial Biofilms
The highly magnified (black and white) electron micrograph below depicts Staphylococcus aureus biofilm contaminating the inner surface of an indwelling catheter. Up to 6% of indwelling (implanted) medical devices are similarly contaminated, leading to potentially life-threatening device-related infections. Such infections may be responsible for close to 1 million nosocomial (hospital-related) infections each year in the U.S. Microbion is working with a leading medical device manufacturer to protect medical devices from contamination by bacteria and biofilms.
The Biofilm Connection to Diabetic
Foot Ulcers and Other Chronic Wounds
In the U.S., diabetic ulcers of the lower extremity are responsible for approximately 92,000 amputations annually, while non-diabetic patients with chronic wounds account for an additional 42,000 amputations annually. The diabetic population in the U.S. is continuing to grow, and 2-3% of that population develops a chronic wound in any given year. Recent research has demonstrated that the majority of chronic wounds are contaminated by microbial biofilms, and that treatment of chronic wounds with an antibiofilm strategy improves the chances of successful healing, which may lower the risk of amputation. Microbion’s bismuth-thiols (BTs) are proven to be able to both prevent biofilm formation, and to compromise established microbial biofilms.