New staph can cause death in 72 hours

Patients with pneumonia in the world and in hospitals are having a terrifying new staph bacteria capable of creating a dangerous toxin that can be fatal within 72 hours. According to the researchers, staphylococcus aureus can transfer to the gene that produces this toxin and seems to do so more often.

Staphylococcus aureus - Staphylococcus aureus (Photo: sanger)

Called Panton Valentine leukocidin (PVL), this toxin itself can cause pneumonia and kill healthy tissue. Gabriela Bowden of Texas A&M Health Science Center in Houston (USA), who chaired the study, said that fortunately, these infected people quickly had high fever and the doctor could identify it. Staphylococcus is the most common cause of infection in hospitals, and can cause heart inflammation, toxin shock syndrome and meningitis.

Often living on the skin and causing red bumps, pimples and other minor infections, staph can cause serious wounds if the bacterial strain produces toxins into the wound.

Penicillin used to cure staph infections, but the bacteria quickly developed resistance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that in 1972 there was only 2% of cases of drug-resistant staph infections, but in 2004, this figure was 63%.

Q.HONG