An October 2007 report in the “Journal of the American Medical Association” it was stated that in 2005, 94 360 US patients developed an invasive infection from MRSA of which 18 650 died.  During that same year 17 011 people died of HIV/AIDS.

While MRSA is a well known superbug there are others that can be far worse.

Gram-negative bacteria can release toxins created by their cell walls into the bloodstream where it is hard to treat them.  The Gram-negative bacteria are the most antibiotic resistant with fewer treatment options in life-threatening diseases such as certain forms of pneumonia, bloodstream infections, gastroenteritis and even meningitis.

People taking antibiotics without prescriptions, or not following the prescriptions as directed, allow the bacteria to be exposed to a wide range of bacteria in the body, both good and bad, giving the bugs the opportunity to develop a resistance to the antibiotics.

“MRSA and other antibiotic resistant bugs are the greatest threat facing health care today” said Stephen Prescott MD President of the Oklahoma Medical Foundation.