Download 3 MSSA Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that commonly

MSSA
Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that commonly colonises human skin
and mucosa (e.g. inside the nose) without causing any problems. It can also
cause disease, particularly if there is an opportunity for the bacteria to enter
the body, for example through broken skin or a medical procedure.
Most strains of S. aureus are sensitive to the more commonly used antibiotics,
and infections can be effectively treated. Some S. aureus bacteria are more
resistant. Those resistant to the antibiotic meticillin are termed meticillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and often require different types of
antibiotic to treat them. Those that are sensitive to meticillin are termed
meticillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). MRSA and MSSA only
differ in their degree of antibiotic resistance: other than that there is no real
difference between them. (HPA website)
Since January 2011 the Trust has reported the number of MSSA
bacteraemias to the Health Protection Agency. Bacteraemia occurs when
bacteria get into the bloodstream. There are no current targets attached to
this reporting and it is being used to gain additional information on the
background and causes of the infection.
E coli
Most strains of Escherichia coli form part of the normal intestinal microflora in
humans and warm-blooded animals. However, some strains have the ability
to cause disease in humans through the presence of specific virulence factors
(HPA website). These diseases include infections outside the intestinal tract
such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), and bacteraemia.
Since June 2011 as part of ongoing information gathering the Trust has
submitted data on E coli bacteraemia to the HPA. In a similar way to MSSA it
is then hoped to provide further information on the incidence and causes of
the bacteraemia
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