 Types of emerging diseases Staphylococcus aureus (or informally referred to as “Staph”) manifests itself in many ways, but is probably most famously known as “flesh-eating bacteria”. About 25% to 30% of the general population is colonized with Staph in their nose or on the surface of their skin, but if it finds its way beyond the skin barrier, it can cause a variety of infections, ranging from minor skin infections, including pimples or boils, to more serious infections that can lead to fatal outcomes, such as pneumonia or sepsis. For many years, penicillin and methicillin were considered excellent treatments for Staph infections. Strains of Staph that are resistant to methicillin were first observed in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. However, in recent years, community-associated MRSA has become more prevalent. A recent article in JAMA estimated that in 2005, MRSA infected nearly 9,000 Americans, in whom 1 in 5 infections were deadly. Drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of ear infections in children, meningitis, systemic infection, and pneumonia. Strains that are resistant to penicillin and other penicillin-like antibiotics have increased over the last 30 years and are responsible for a large percentage of death and sickness in the U.S. Drug-resistant Enterococcus Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are found in the bowel and female genital tract and can cause urinary tract infections, blood infections, and meningitis. Enterococci can cause fatal infections in individuals with compromised health, such as infants and the elderly. Several strains of drug-resistant enterococci have emerged in the last 30 years, including those that are resistant to penicillin, vancomycin, and linezolid. http://infectiousdiseases.about.com/od/rarediseases/a/rising_superbug.htm
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