methicillin-resistant Staph aureus (MRSA) 'superbug' found in ocean, public beaches

[Liberal_in_LA]

MRSA 'superbug' found in ocean, public beaches

By Steve Sternberg, USA TODAY
SAN FRANCISCO — Public beaches may be one source of the surging prevalence of the superbug known as multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, researchers here said Saturday.

A study by researchers at the University of Washington has for the first time identified methicillin-resistant Staph aureus (MRSA) in marine water and beach sand from seven public beaches on the Puget Sound.

The researchers identified Staph bacteria on nine of 10 public beaches that they tested. Seven of 13 Staph aureus samples, found on five beaches, were multidrug resistant, says lead investigator Marilyn Roberts.

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Curiously, Roberts says, five of the samples found on the beach and in the sand more closely resembled hospital-acquired MRSA than the bacteria found in the community. Three of the samples, from three beaches 10 miles apart, were virtually identical, she says. "One would think they came from the same source," Roberts added.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-09-12-staph-superbug-MRSA-beaches_N.htm

[BootinUp]

1. cue the theme from Jaws.

yuk.

[cutlassmama]

2. And...how many Americans WITHOUT health insurance???

[JCMach1]

3. Scares the shit out of me- my youngest nearly died at 4yo with Staph...

scalded skin syndrome.

It is like have 2 and 3rd degree burns over your entire body as your skin melts away.

It happens so quickly you can literally see it visually... :(

[aquart]

4. I hope I never do.

[thecrow]

5. Let's see...

There's an "island" of debris and garbage floating in the Pacific that's the size of Texas.... and growing...
Needles and other medical waste have been washing up on NJ shores since waaaaaaaaaaaaay back...
I used to patrol beaches there in the 70's for needles and other such fine stuff as a small child would fine interesting to (ugh) play with.

So why are we surprised when we don't respect the oceans and this shit starts washing up onshore?
We are the ones who created this sea of death.

My dad was a chemist and when I was apalled that he was helping to design a pipeline to dispose of chemical waste, he said "Oh don't be such a panic artist... the ocean is a very big place"

Respectfully, Dad, it did fill up with all this shit because it wasn't just your company pumping it in there.

[FirstLight]

6. EXACTLY!!!

Just like in the Middle Ages when people just dumped refuse and sweage out the window (out of sight, ou of mind...ya)
and how healthy was that?

seems we humans have had a problem with how to dispose of our collective crap for centuries, and just putting the stuff in a fatrher away place or a bigger hole (or ocean) isn't going to make it go away...

I live in the sierras, and the pollution has come down from the rain and raised the levels of mercury in the cold water fish as well...the ecosystem is more entertwined than we can ever know, and eventually, Mother Nature is going to school us humans in a big way!

[seabeyond]

7. upside. hubby telling me yesterday, scientist found how superbugs were resisting and think

they can use old drugs to go after it.

looks promising.

[cutlassmama]

8. I hope the scientists can figure it out soon. Looks like we're gonna need it!