MRSA - The silent danger

October 2 is World MRSA Day. This day is intended to draw attention to the importance of antibiotic-resistant pathogens such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) for our health and the threat they can pose. Every year, around 33,000 people across Europe (1) die from an infection with multi-resistant pathogens. schülke's product portfolio makes a significant contribution to reducing the risk of infection and protecting the health of patients.

New antibiotics have top priority

In view of the global emergence of drug-resistant pathogens, antibiotics are becoming increasingly ineffective. Against this backdrop, the WHO committed to a global action plan to combat antibiotic resistance in 2015 and published a list of pathogens that have priority in the development of new antibiotics in 2017. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the pathogens with the highest priority. In addition, the WHO emphasizes the importance of infection prevention and control strategies in reducing healthcare-associated infections (2).

To raise awareness of MRSA and promote commitment to MRSA prevention and control measures in the healthcare sector, we would like to share our knowledge of MRSA and contribute to this with our schülke products

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common facultative pathogens that colonize inconspicuously on body surfaces and only cause infection when the immune system is weakened. Up to 30 percent of people worldwide are colonized with Staphylococcus aureus (3). The ratio of methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) to methicillin-resistant (MRSA) Staphylococcus aureus isolates varies greatly in Europe and is < 5% in Germany, for example, compared to > 25% in Portugal (4).

Colonization with MSSA or MRSA is not a clinical problem per se. However, under certain conditions, Staphylococcus aureus can cause a variety of mild to severe invasive infections. These infections usually occur in the course of medical treatment and include, among others

  • Bacteremia or sepsis
  • Pneumonia (lung inflammation)
  • endocarditis
  • Wound infections and post-operative wound infections

MRSA prevention saves lives

Nasal colonization with MSSA, for example, is associated with a six to seven times higher risk of developing a postoperative wound infection. In the case of MRSA colonization, the risk is even up to nine times (5) higher than in non-colonized patients. The clinical picture of infections caused by MSSA and MRSA does not differ. However, in older patients with a post-operative wound infection caused by MSSA, mortality is increased fivefold, while surgical site infections caused by MRSA lead to an up to elevenfold (6) increase in mortality. Therefore, the prevention of MRSA transmission and infection is crucial.

schülke's contribution to the fight against MRSA

Many MRSA infections can be avoided through consistent hygiene such as thorough hand washing and disinfection as well as careful (post-operative) wound care. The schülke product portfolio makes an important contribution in the fight against the silent danger of MRSA.

Sources:
(1)https://www.rki.de/SharedDocs/FAQ/Krankenhausinfektionen-und-Antibiotikaresistenz/FAQ_Liste.html#:~:text=Etwa%2030.000%20bis%2035.000%20Patienten,zwischen%201.000%20und%204.000%20liegen.%22
(2) https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance
(3) Sakr A, Brégeon F, Mège JL, Rolain JM, Blin O. Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Colonization: An Update on Mechanisms, Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Subsequent Infections. Front Microbiol. 2018 Oct 8;9:2419. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02419. PMID: 30349525; PMCID: PMC6186810.
(4) ECDC, Antimicrobial resistance surveillance in Europe, 2023
5: Anderson et al, 2017, Neurosurgery
6: McGarry S.A. et al, 2013: Surgical-site infection due to Staphylococcus aureus among elderly patients: Mortality, duration of hospitalization, and cost.

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