|
Vancomycin resistant Staph. Aureus reported in USA The CDC has announced the discovery of a new strain of Staph. Aureus with 'low level' resistance to Vancomycin. (25 August 1997)
Algosteril - New alginate for UK
market |
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has reported a patient with an infection caused by a Staphylococcus aureus isolate with low-level resistance to vancomycin; the first such occurrence in the United States. Two out of the six isolates had a resistance profile, but were susceptible to other antimicrobials, such as tetracycline. The CDC concludes that this finding increases the possibility that antibiotic resistance may eventually make many infections untreatable with current antibiotics.
A strain of staphylococcus aureus bacteria found in a Michigan man in July showed an intermediate level of resistance to vancomycin, "one step from immunity to the drug" according to the CDC. "We were concerned it would emerge here, it has emerged here and we are concerned we're going to see it popping up in more places." said Dr. William Jarvis, a medical epidemiologist at CDC.
The patient had been given vancomycin for six months, for a recurring infection associated with the abdominal catheter used for renal dialysis. He now is being treated with a combination of antimicrobials, including vancomycin.
The Michigan report follows three months after a similar strain was isolated in Japan. The CDC had reported the case of a 4-month-old Japanese infant who developed the infection, which showed an intermediate resistance to vancomycin, following cardiac surgery. The baby was subsequently treated with other agents.
Early detection and subsequent control of staphylococci with decreased susceptibility to vancomycin depends on co-ordinated surveillance. While these organisms could be resistant to most existing antimicrobial agents, new drugs in development appear to be effective for these types of strains; one experimental drug was used in the treatment of the Japanese infant.
Staphylococcus pathogens are commonly found on the skin or in chronic wounds without producing any disease. However, Staphylococci can produce a variety of disease symptoms ranging from skin infections to blood stream infections and death. In hospitalised patients, they frequently cause septicaemias, pneumonia, and surgical wound infections.
Reducing the risk of the emergence of vancomycin resistant strains of staphylococci depends on health-care professionals, including prudent vancomycin use and infection-control measures such as frequent and effective hand-washing.
To limit the risk of resistant strains spreading, hospitals and community health departments need to implement rigorous infection control procedures and monitor the use of antibiotics. The development of new treatments (e.g., research and investigation of new antimicrobial drugs) may help to control the problem, but many experts believe that the spread of resistant strains will outpace the development of new 'magic bullets'.
Press Association report available:
Meyer, Tara; Super Resistant Bacteria in U.S.,
Associated Press,August 1997 -
http://www.newsday.com/ap/rnmphs0c.htm (NOTE: this link now
appears dead.)
Staphylococcus aureus with Reduced Susceptibility to Vancomycin - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S., MMWR, August 22, 1997, Volume 46, Number 33. (Available in Adobe Acrobat format).
A partnership between Beiersdorf UK and Les Laboratories Brothier SA (France) has resulted in the UK launch of Algosteril, a new product for moist wounds.
Algosteril is an alginate derived from a species of brown seaweed. It is a natural polymer with hydrophilic properties; wound exudate is absorbed to form a gellified fibre structure.
The manufacturers say that the dressing is easy to use and can be applied directly to the wound. It is claimed to have a high tensile strength and low adherence, allowing it to be removed in one piece. This could reduce the need for intensive irrigation and the risk of disturbing any newly formed tissue.
According to Beiersdorf, "Algosteril creates a moist wound environment, encouraging cellular activity and wound cleansing through its ionic exchange properties. It is ideal for bleeding wounds because the calcium alginate fibres stimulates platelet aggregation - resulting in haemostasis."
A feature of the dressing is that "bacteria as well as wound debris are trapped within its gellified fibres, which are then removed from the wound at dressing change." The structure is also said to stimulate the production of macrophages through its ionic exchange properties, enabling the rapidly cleansing of infected wounds.
Lorri Jones from Beiersdorf commented: "We are pleased to announce the addition of Algosteril to our wound care range. It is an excellent new therapeutic choice to easily treat heavily exuding, infected wounds, offering a unique anti-microbial activity".
Beiersdorf UK have added Algosteril, their first product in the alginate sector, to their existing range. Algosteril is available immediately on drug tariff.
For further information, please contact:
Gill Markham or Dianne Burrows
at Counsellor on 01494 448588.