The Buzz: MRSA is Back and Badder Than Ever

A notorious bacterial foe has made its first documented appearance in the U.S. and is jumping species around the farm scene. First, MSRA—methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus— was found in chickens. Just recently, research conducted by ScienceBlogger Tara Smith from Aetiology found that ST398, a strain found in pigs, was also found in many of the humans who came into contact with the pigs at a large food production farm in Iowa. While this strain seems to spread readily between animals and humans, its potential for lethal infections is still unclear.

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I've been saying for a while now that the 'piggy MRSA*', known as ST398, is going to be a problem. Always listen to the Mad Biologist.
The emerging MRSA strain ST398 has found a new home--chickens. MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) was first found to have swept through European swine herds from 2003-2006. Then it entered the hospital system.
I recently gave a talk to a group here in Iowa City, emphasizing just how frequently we share microbes.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is very difficult to k

stop eating factory farmed animals to stop creating superbugs.. the information is all out there.