MRSA Pneumonia Often Follows Flu

More cases of pneumonia are being caused by treatment-resistant bacteria. And this type of pneumonia most often follows a case of influenza, a new study finds. Researchers said this is an even larger concern because of the recent swine flu outbreak. The study focused on pneumonia caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. These are often called MRSA infections. They resist common antibiotics and are hard to cure. MRSA pneumonia can kill more than half of those who are infected, researchers said. Most cases are linked to a stay in a hospital or nursing home. But more and more cases start in the community, the study found. The study appeared in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases. Reuters Health news service wrote about it May 19.