A new deadly strain of MRSA has emerged which is acquired through casual contact in the community. Currently it is believed to be more prevalent within the gay population in San Francisco, but two cases of the USA300 strain have been recorded in the UK.
New strain of MRSA emerges
The new strain causes large boils on the skin, is resistant to many front-line antibiotics, and can lead to fatal blood poisoning or necrotising pneumonia. Professor Mark Enright of Imperial College and St Mary’s Hospital in London commented that the USA300 strain is extremely good at spreading between people through skin-to-skin contact.
