The technique has been used for 90 years in the former Soviet Union but is not approved for medical use in the United States (though the Food and Drug Administration has approved the spraying of meat with phages). Phage therapy involves the use of viruses to combat specific infections. Research in Georgia, formerly a part of the Soviet Union, shows phage therapy effective against up to 95% of staph isolates.
In 2007, maggots were used to eat the dead flesh surrounding MRSA infections, preventing further infection without antibiotics. This is not a new therapy. It is known as Maggot Debridement. It has been used throughout history but fell into disfavor with the advent of penicillin.
Stories of maggot therapy came out of World War II because it was difficult to acquire antibiotics is some situations. For example, in prisoner of war camps often the camp doctor or medic would examine the wounds of unsuspecting soldiers near the latrine. The resulting maggots would consume the dead infected flesh only, thus promoting healing; all without the patients being any the wiser as to the activities that were going on beneath their bandages.
In 2006, doctors at the University of Chicago and Rockefeller University (New York) reported a successful test of a vaccine using mice. This could protect against several forms of MRSA, including one type of CA-MRSA.
The University of Chicago is also working on a way to turn off the protein that warns MRSA antibiotics are on the way. This would render the germ blind to the defender’s attack. Such a scheme might allow conventional antibiotics to once again be used to fight MRSA.
While scientists work on the big picture, the next chapter describes everyday steps people can take to reduce the possibility of personally harboring MRSA today.