Another ‘Superbug’ Rising in Hospitals

One “superbug” seems to be declining in U.S. hospitals. But another may be increasing, a new study finds. Hospitals have struggled in recent years to combat bacteria known as MRSA. This stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It’s called “resistant” because most antibiotics can’t kill it. But a new study of hospitals in four states found that the rate of another infection was higher. Researchers counted infections acquired in the hospitals in a two-year period. There were 680 cases of MRSA and 847 cases of Clostridium difficile. This colon infection is also known as C. diff. The study also found that MRSA cases were falling but C. diff was rising. Researchers presented study results at a conference March 20. The Associated Press (AP) wrote about the study. A U.S. health official told AP that C. diff is rising in some hospitals but not others.