What is a Superbug?

Superbugs, also called Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) bacteria, are resistant to several antibiotics. Not all superbugs necessary cause a severe infection though. One common superbug is MRSA.

What is MRSA?

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a strain (a genetic variant within the same species) of Staphylococcus aureus bacterium, resistant to antibiotic methicillin, and other antibiotics from the same class as penicillin, amoxacillin, and oxacillin. The main problem with MRSA is that it is often not recognized as such, and hence treated with inappropriate antibiotics (1, page 25).

MRSA Related Terms

MRSA= Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (Common misspelling: MERSA, MRCA, MERCA)
HA-MRSA = Healthcare Associated MRSA
CA-MRSA = Community Associated MRSA,
CO-MRSA = Community Onset MRSA, and HO-MRSA is Hospital Onset MRSA, terms describe the source of infection when found in a healtcare unit. 
EMRSA = Epidemic MRSA ~ MRSA strain easily spreading among patients and hospitals
MRSE = Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Epidermidis
VRSA = Vancomycin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
MSSA = Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus, this is an usual S. aureus, shortly SA
Staph = short for all types of staphylococci (staph aureus, staph epidermidis, staph infection)

MRSA virus is a commonly used term that is obviously incorrect, since MRSA is a bacterium.

continue reading MRSA Superbug Types: CA-MRSA, HA-MRSA in Y. 2008

Hair Dye Allergies – Introduction

About 5% of permanent hair dyes users develop allergy, mostly as an allergic contact dermatitis with redness and itching in the head area, but systemic reaction with involvement of the whole body skin and other organs may appear in severe cases (1). Hand dermatitis affects considerable percent of hair-dressers (2). The main cause is substance PPD.

PPD (4-ParaPhenyleneDiamine, C6H8N2)

PPD is widely present on the market since 1909 and it is still used in over 2/3 of permanent hair dyes. Commercial hair dye product typically comes in two bottles: the one with PPD based dye (non-oxidized and thus colorless) and the other with oxidizer or developer, usually hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In the hair dying process initially the peroxide is used to break down the natural hair pigment melanin, and then the PPD is used to replace melanin. When PPD reacts with peroxide it becomes partly oxidized and colored and it is this form which may cause allergy. Fully oxidized PPD does not cause allergy, so PPD sensitive persons can wear fur coats dyed with PPD safely (3). PPD can also be found in some dark colored cosmetics and temporary tattoos. In France, Germany and Sweden PPD was banned as a hair dye because it was thought to be too dangerous for health. (4).

Alternative names for PPD: PPDA, Orsin, Rodol, Ursol.

continue reading Hair Dye Allergies