MRSA found in 7.6% of Iranian hospital food samples
Iranian scientists report a 7.6% prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in almost 500 hospital food samples they tested, and the bacteria had high levels of resistance to other antibiotics, as well, according to a study yesterday in Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control.
The researchers identified MRSA strains using oxacillin and cefoxitin disk diffusion tests and polymerase chain reaction amplification from 488 raw and cooked hospital food samples. They found S aureus in 9.7% of samples and MRSA in 7.6%, with raw chicken (27.0%), raw meat (26.3%), meat barbecue (16.1%), and chicken barbecue (8.5%) having the highest prevalence.
The MRSA strains also harbored high instance of resistance against penicillin (100%), ceftaroline (100%), tetracycline (100%), erythromycin (89.18%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (83.78%). The team also found that the human-based biotypes of the MRSA strains harbored higher prevalence of resistance against human-based antibiotics.
Oct 4 Antimicrob Resist Infect Control study
San Diego hepatitis A outbreak climbs to 481 cases, 17 deaths
A hepatitis A outbreak in San Diego County that began early this year with most cases in homeless people and illicit drug users has now sickened at least 481, including 337 needing hospitalization and 17 who died, the county's Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) said in its most recent update.
The disease spreads person to person and through contact with environments contaminated with feces. In early September, the outbreak led county officials to declare and ratify a local public health emergency, and health officials have offered vaccination in targeted locations.
In a Sep 12 health alert, county officials said cases were reported in all parts of the county, and though there are several clusters that share epidemiologic links, so far no common food, beverage, or drug source had been found. Case clusters have been reported in people who used the same homeless shelters or shared bathrooms in other facilities such as jails, hotels, or drug treatment centers.
Viral sequencing shows that 13 closely related strains of genotype 1B are involved, with the main strain similar to the virus causing an outbreak in California's Santa Cruz County.
Oct 3 San Diego HHSA outbreak update
Sep 12 California Health Alert Network notice
Report: 11 sickened by monkeypox virus in Nigeria
Eleven people, including a doctor, are sick with monkeypox virus in Nigeria, according to TheNewsGuru.com. All of the cases are currently being treated under quarantine at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital.
The first patient, an 11-year-old boy, presented with symptoms on Sep 22, and as of Oct 5, there have been 11 confirmed cases. All patients are currently improving, according to a statement from the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Thirty-two contacts are being monitored for signs of the virus.
The NCDC said Nigerians should avoid contact with any sick animals. Person-to-person transmission of the virus is rare but can occur.
Monkeypox has no cure and can be fatal in humans in 1% to 10% of cases. It is related to smallpox, and smallpox vaccine is used to prevent the disease among those exposed.
Oct 4 TheNewsGuru story