A recent study released by Hebrew SeniorLife’s Institute for Aging Research warned residents of long term care facilities and/or their relatives about this new kind of bacteria which is resistant to common antibiotic medications. MDRGN organisms or Multi-Drug Resistant Gram-Negative bacteria exceeded MRSA and VRE, in terms of strength and resistant and it is notably gaining prevalence in long term care facilities.
Unfortunately, studies have been focused only on these two common drug-resistant organisms and it looks like, they were barking at the wrong tree since MDRGN are much more deadly and went undetected for many years until now.
MRSA or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a strain of Staphylococcus aureus. They are very resistant to antibiotics such as penicillin and cephalosporin. In general, this strain has the ability to resist all beta-lactam antibiotics and could cause trouble in hospitals and health care facilities since they can spread around fast. Elderly, children and others with compromised immune system especially those confined in above-mentioned places, are at a greater risk of MRSA infection.
On the other hand, VRE or Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus, is another mutant strain that has the ability to resist certain antibacterial drug Vancomycin. This stain can be found in the digestive system of an infected human and scarily enough, it can pass its uncanny resistance to other dormant bacteria inside the body, making it a battalion of mutant bacteria infecting and altering other neighboring organisms. Just like MRSA, VRE is commonly found in hospitals and health care facilities.
But now, apparently, MDRGN poses greater risk for seniors residing in long-term health care facilities. Residents may be infected but completely unaware since there are no obvious symptoms. This strain manifests by destroying tissues and can cause death when left untreated for longer periods of time. They invade the infected person’s blood stream and unlike MRSA and VRE, MDRGN is resistant to multiple groups of antibacterial/ antimicrobial preparations making it harder for health care providers to deal with.
Since this study was released, long term care facilities are now taking extensive precautions in treating their wards. MDRGN is now under close scrutiny while further analysis is taking place. MDRGN infection is suspected for higher mortality rates, prolonged hospital stays and staggering medical costs brought about wrong diagnosis and nondetection. Overall, Multi-Drug Resistant Gram-Negative bacteria affect seniors’ quality of life and since it travels all throughout the body via the bloodstream, it causes immeasurable damage from head to foot. This can go undiscovered for a long time and can manifest at a later time, depending on your own body’s immune state.
