[BBFRN]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7406832.stm

"Most antibiotics used to treat hospital bugs such as MRSA are bacteriostatic, meaning they prevent the growth of bacteria. But pharmaceutical company Destiny Pharma says its compound - codenamed XF-73 - kills bacteria.
A study of the drug, which is applied as a gel into patients' noses, showed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (MRSA) did not develop resistance to the compound despite being exposed to it 55 times."

[Sunkyst08]

WOW! That is great to hear!! MRSA has gotten outta control!!

[pepperann35]

Originally Posted by Sunkyst08

WOW! That is great to hear!! MRSA has gotten outta control!!

Here in Florida, I work in LTC. We have had several employees with MRSA outbreaks, my own 2 children, another employees baby and our in-house physician's son has been fighting MRSA outbreaks since he was born several months ago. Very disturbing!

[er1c]

i wonder if its like that staphaseptic gel stuff

[mbw5680]

I hope it works, but it seems suspicious to me. After all, how is a nasal gel going to treat a bloodborne infection? It's absolutely true that MRSA is in nasal carriages (especially of hospital staff!) so maybe treating nurses preventatively would decrease spread to patients.

Everyone--wash your hands!

[Microbe hunter]

I find this interesting but I don't hold out hope that this topical drug will do much about MRSA transmission. Bactroban has not been shown to be very effective way to permanently de-colonize MRSA carriers. You pick up MRSA so easily that you will become re colonized after a short time. This business about 55 exposure to the yet to be named drug has not shown any resistance is unsubstantiated by any reference in the sited article.

As a member of the American Society of Microbiology, I have met the scientists who are working with the CA-MRSA USA300 and USA400 and they has seen resistance develop quickly to Bactroban. In fact, with the strain 400 it is useless.

This new compound may be better at de-colonizing nares but de-colonization is only a temporary solution at best, as Staph including MRSA lives on many other body surfaces.

Obsessive hand hygiene will produce better outcomes for your patients and keep MRSA from taking up residence in your nares. Therefore,...Hand hygiene is the best thing to do.
MH

[IndySkies]

A study of the drug, which is applied as a gel into patients' noses, showed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (MRSA) did not develop resistance to the compound despite being exposed to it 55 times.

(Of course it showed resistance, if it stuck around 55 times to be tested). or....On the 56th exposure it developes resistance