Here's a copy:

Kristen Bautz
Erin Carroll
Ellen Dargie
Biology of Drugs and People, Group 6

Annotated Bibliography: Supergerms

PRIMARY DOCUMENT

Tiwari, Hare Krishna, Das, Ayan, Sapkota, Darshan, Sivrajan, Kunjukunju, AND Pahwa, Vijay. "Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Prevalence And Antibiogram In A Tertiary Care Hospital in Western Nepal" The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries [Online], 3 22 Oct 2009
The study conducted on MRSA germs and infections in Nepal highlights the prevalence of "supergerm" troubles across the globe. The researchers acknowledge that the severity of MRSA varies by country, but it is a problem in hospitals and is often a "community" germ. Studying a specific example of a supergerm that causes infections and death within 'sterile' hospital environments around the globe stresses the scientific importance of learning more about supergerms and how to prevent them. The study of MRSA was conducted by isolating large numbers of strands and evaluating (1) what the strand was and (2) the environment it came from. The study found that 66.9% of the strands tested were hospital acquired and 100% of the strands were penicillin-resistant. While these numbers would vary by country, especially between the developing and developed worlds, it is clear for our purposes that MRSA is among the many worrisome supergerms. The numbers and findings given have sever implications- if MRSA is so high prevalent in some hospitals and is resistant to one of the most common antibiotics, how are doctors to treat hospital patient who acquire these infections? This study will provide our project with concrete examples and figures that cause the popular concern over supergerms.

REVIEW ARTICLE

Perry, c, and C Hall. "Antibiotic resistance: how it arises, the current position and strategies for the future.." Nursing Times 105.36 (2009): 15-21. Academic Search Premier, Georgetown University, 28 October 2009.
We chose the article "Antibiotic resistance: how it arises, the current position and future strategies" as our review article. The review, prepared by two nurses at University Hospitals Bristol Foundation Trust, describes the specific steps by which bacteria are able to resist antibiotics. The authors then further differentiate between the resistance of antibiotics carried out by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Finally, the authors cite developments in the fight against antibiotic resistance, most notably, how antibiotics will have to be modified. This article will be useful in preparing our NPR-like blurb because, although the article is intended for those directly involved in the medical community, it will provide our group with a biological background as to why the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance occurs, on a molecular level. The language is simple enough for our purposes, and the information is essential for understanding why some bacteria resist antibiotics."

POPULAR SOURCES

Berens, Michael J.. "Drug-resistant germs adapt, thrive beyond hospital walls -- latimes.com." Los Angeles Times - California, L.A., Entertainment and World news - latimes.com. 23 July 2002. 28 Oct. 2009 .
For our popular source we chose the three-part expose titled "Drug-resistant germs adapt, thrive beyond hospital walls." Although it was originally written by staff of the reputable Chicago Tribune, this article has been republished in many different papers because of its shocking content. The language is simple and easy enough for non-medical professionals to understand and appreciate. This piece will work perfectly with our primary source on the emergence of super germs because it highlights where these germs can originate. This article provides very interesting sources of these germs in the hospital such as unsanitary conditions, overmedication, and lack of care due to budget constraints. The facts contained in this popular source will provide the basis for our NPR like blurb as it is informative, clear, and interesting.

Graves, Ginny. "Supergerms." Health Vol. 23 Issue 6 (Jul/Aug2009): p124-178. Academic Search Premier, Georgetown University, 28 October 2009.
The article "Supergerms" by Ginny Graves, is also a good popular source for our purposes. The author begins her article with a good scare tactic, telling the reader the realities of all of the bugs that are out there, using interviews with doctors to back up her claims. The meat of her article, though, comes when she prescribes to her readers how to avoid contracting these bacterial infections that can prove tricky to treat. She cites the examples of C. diff., MRSA, salmonella poisoning, gonorrhea and acne as particularly tough cases. This article will be helpful in that the author gives specific examples of bacterial infections that are becoming harder and harder to treat because of antibiotic resistance, as well as helpful tactics for preventing an untreatable situation. The language she uses is very basic, and the format of the article (short paragraphs and bullet-point lists) is obviously geared toward the general public.

Let me know what you think: "We chose the article "Antibiotic resistance: how it arises, the current position and future strategies" as our review article. The review, prepared by two nurses at University Hospitals Bristol Foundation Trust, describes the specific steps by which bacteria are able to resist antibiotics. The authors then further differentiate between the resistance of antibiotics carried out by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Finally, the authors cite developments in the fight against antibiotic resistance, most notably, how antibiotics will have to be modified. This article will be useful in preparing our NPR-like blurb because, although the article is intended for those directly involved in the medical community, it will provide our group with a biological background as to why the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance occurs, on a molecular level. The language is simple enough for our purposes, and the information is essential for understanding why some bacteria resist antibiotics."

Erin,
Ellen and I were talking about a slightly different topic that could potentially be very interested too: bacteria that originate in hospitals and are resistant to antibiotics. We can obviously talk about this when we all get together, but I found some articles that are relevant to that too!

I think that this is a good review source. It summarizes the findings of several studies about the nature of antibiotic resistance (which we would need as background for our topic).