New Bacteria Strain Spreads "Rapidly" Among Gay Men in Boston, SF

[DSM4Life]

A new, drug-resistant strain of the “flesh-eating” MSRA bacteria is spreading quickly among gay men in Boston and San Francisco and soon could pose a wider threat, according to an article in The New York Times.

In a study published Monday by the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers wrote that the MSRA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria were spread easily through anal intercourse, as well as by skin-to-skin contact and touching contaminated surfaces. Unless laboratories can identify the strain and doctors prescribe appropriate antibiotics, the infection, researchers wrote, “has the potential for rapid, nationwide dissemination” among gay men.

Another part of the study found that gay men in San Francisco were about 13 times more likely than other people to contract the bacteria. Symptoms can include abscesses and infection in the genital and buttocks area, skin ulcers, pneumonia, heart damage, and necrotizing fasciitis: the skin infection that gives the bacteria its popular name.

All MSRA bacteria are resistant to methicillin, but the new strain is also resistant to antibiotics used to treat earlier forms: clindamycin, tetracycline, and mupirocin.

Almost 19,000 people died nationwide from MSRA infection in 2005, according to the CDC. (The Advocate)

[wantmoremass]

The advocate should really get a better spellchecker - It's MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) not MSRA. A friend of mine got this bacteria from a steam room at his health club. It created an abcess worthy of a horror movie. It was difficult to treat, and took a while to heal. My advice, stay away from steam rooms, and if you do go in, don't lean against the wall!

[DSM4Life]

The advocate should really get a better spellchecker - It's MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) not MSRA. A friend of mine got this bacteria from a steam room at his health club. It created an abcess worthy of a horror movie. It was difficult to treat, and took a while to heal. My advice, stay away from steam rooms, and if you do go in, don't lean against the wall!

I never go in the steam room or use them nasty pools.

[Renesis]

Thats why we have our own steam shower and jacuzzi tub

[Tock]

From:

http://www.fhoutfront.com/2008/01/staph-infection.html

Staph Infection: More Information and Less Hysteria

There have been reports in the media and on blogs around the world this week of new strain of staph, highly resistant to antibiotics reportedly spreading among gay men in San Francisco, Boston, New York and Los Angeles.

Some of the headlines have been sensationalist, labeling this newly strain of an increasingly common infection as “the new HIV” whereas others – notably those I have read in the San Francisco Chronicle and the New York Times – have been more considered, and based on the factual evidence available.

Unfortunately there is a distinct lack of factual evidence available. The story is out there based on the study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine titled "Emergence of Multidrug-Resistant, Community-Associated, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clone USA300 in Men Who Have Sex with Men."

I have no doubt that this is a credible medical study but it is one study and does not provide all the answers in terms of why this new strain of the MRSA infection has affected and is being spread in the gay community.

The study itself says in the section “What were the limitations of the study?”:

Not many multidrug-resistant MRSA infections were found. As a result, the researchers' estimates of infection risk were not very precise. Also, because the researchers did not actually interview study participants, they could not really say what caused the infections.

It suggests that this may be due to those who are HIV positive being more at risk due to weaken immune systems, heavy use of antibiotics, and hints that the type of sexuality activity (where the skin-to-skin contact occurs) between gay men may put them at greater risk of contracting the infection.

At the same time the study does not declare this to be a sexually transmitted disease and states that it can be transferred through non-sexual close contact.

This makes it similar to other forms of MRSA which have been identified outside hospitals, and have led to outbreaks in schools, gyms, and other public places where there is close contact between people.

The problem here is clearly a plenty of information out there about the symptoms and effects, but not about how it is transmitted and what steps to take to prevent infection.

This information vacuum is a breeding ground for fear, panic, stereotypes and prejudice – and as we have seen in the media inaccurate comparisons with HIV/AIDS.
This is not HIV/AIDS. The bacteria has been identified by the medical profession and it is generally, although not always, treatable. It is actually more contagious than HIV/AIDS as it can be spread via casual contact and is not simply the result of “promiscuous” behavior by gay men as many media reports have claimed.

We have seen outbreaks of new forms of MRSA before and there has never been a comparison made with HIV/AIDS. It is only because this strain has been identified in one study as being prevalent, although not confined to, the gay population that this lazy comparison has been made.

What is needed is both responsible reporting by the media, and clear guidance from healthcare communicators about the facts of the new infection.

Of course we must take this extremely seriously as a community and should by no means downplay it in any way. It is a dangerous condition that is difficult to treat but we must operate on the facts and not speculation or hysteria at this stage.


I think it is important for public health officials to make sure that the facts are communicated in the media and through campaigns if necessary. I have searched for information about this new form of staph but the only advice coming from the scientists (who are not public health experts) is to wash with soap and water after sexual activity.

Even after reading the patient summary of the report I was none the wiser about what to do to avoid acquiring this infection.

With such a lack of information out there it has been left to the media to report the findings of the study and the very limited advice out there on prevention. In many cases this has led to sensational headlines and the perhaps inevitable comparison with HIV which although I am not a medical expert does not appear to be accurate.
The most sensible statement I have seen in the media so far came from Roger Pebody, of the Terrence Higgins Trust in a BBC Online report, who said:

"This is not the new HIV. What we are seeing is the emergence of an infection that can be passed on through close skin to skin contact, including sex. It is worrying that one in ten of the American cases are resistant to antibiotics, but most cases are treatable."

The media need to seek out a wider spectrum of opinion and independent expertise on this issue rather than relying on the findings and advice on the report’s authors to avoid sensationalism and to take a responsible role in communicating with the public and the gay community in particular.

At the moment gay men are confused and lack information. It should also be the responsibility of healthcare communicators to step in and present the facts about this infection. This will hopefully reduce some of the hysteria both in the media and the gay community, and also reduce any stigma attached to an infection that can be transmitted via casual contact and through previously safe sexual behavior.

[Logan13]

"At the moment gay men are confused and lack information. It should also be the responsibility of healthcare communicators to step in and present the facts about this infection."

how about using a damn condom.............

[Tock]

how about using a damn condom.............

For a staph infection?

Geez . . . staph bacteria is spread via any part of the skin to another. It's been a problem in high schools among athletes, too.

Condoms won't do much for staph.

[soccer#3]

i think he meant a bodily condom...

anyway, sounds disgusting

[Tock]

i think he meant a bodily condom...

anyway, sounds disgusting

Regardless of what Logan meant, it was fun to

[RA]

People dont realize how much of a problem this is grown to be...especially in hospitals.

[Hoggage_54]

People dont realize how much of a problem this is grown to be...especially in hospitals.

Yeah we had an outbreak of it in my hospital recently but we've been able to contain it for the most part and the numbers have dropped.