Staph infections still a concern
Excerpt from the October 29, 1966, issue of Science News
GROWING RESISTANCE Antibiotic resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (shown here in yellow) are pushing scientists to find alternative treatments, including vaccines.
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New hope for control of staph infections
Staphylococcal infections — especially rampant in hospitals and responsible for … some fatal disorders — may be virtually stamped out. Researchers … have extracted teichoic acid from the bacteria’s cell wall and used it to protect groups of mice from subsequent massive doses of virulent staph organisms. — Science News, October 29, 1966
UPDATE
Staphylococcus aureus has not been conquered. As antibiotic resistance grows, the pressure is on to find ways to stop the deadly microbe. A vaccine that targets S. aureus’ various routes of infection is being tested in patients having back surgery. Ideally, doctors would use the vaccine to protect hospital patients and people with weakened immune systems. This vaccine is the furthest along among several others in development. Meanwhile, a natural antibiotic recently found in human noses may lead to drugs that target antibiotic-resistant staph (SN: 8/20/16, p. 7).
