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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Published on: February 9, 2011
'Post antibiotic apocalypse': discourses of mutation in narratives of MRSA
1School of Applied Social Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester. brown@brown.uk.com
Abstract:
In this paper we will consider the question of mutation as it is manifested in press coverage of MRSA in UK hospitals. This represents a fertile field of discourse which brings into focus issues relating to microbes, people and working practices as well as the concepts of risk and vulnerability. A regular feature of reporting has been the presence of explanations for drug resistance involving repeated random mutations of the microbe to achieve progressively greater resistance and versatility, largely through a Darwinian process which is 'clever' at overcoming human attempts at elimination. More recently a discourse has emerged which foregrounds also the vulnerability of patients who are very young, old or otherwise immunocompromised, or whose own genetic makeup might put them at risk from the microbe. The hospital is decentred as a source of infection, and attention is turned instead to nursing homes and gymnasia as sources of infection in the community. This latter development mitigates the responsibilities of hospitals and statutory healthcare providers and turns the risk back towards the individual as a responsible actor in an ecology of mutation.
Insights
Press coverage of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in UK hospitals highlights microbial mutation and patient vulnerability. Reporting increasingly shifts blame from hospitals to individuals, framing them as responsible for managing infection risks.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Medical Sociology
- Science Communication
Background:
- Press coverage of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in UK hospitals is examined.
- The discourse encompasses microbial mutation, human factors, and risk perception.
- Reporting has evolved from focusing on Darwinian drug resistance to patient vulnerability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze how mutation is portrayed in UK press coverage of MRSA.
- To explore the shifting narratives of risk and responsibility in MRSA reporting.
- To investigate the decentering of hospitals as infection sources.
Main Methods:
- Content analysis of press coverage related to MRSA.
- Discourse analysis of media narratives concerning microbial mutation and drug resistance.
- Examination of evolving concepts of risk and vulnerability in public health reporting.
Main Results:
- Early reporting emphasized microbial adaptation and Darwinian resistance mechanisms.
- Recent coverage highlights patient vulnerability (elderly, immunocompromised) and genetic predispositions.
- A shift is observed from hospital-centric to community-based infection sources (nursing homes, gyms).
Conclusions:
- Media narratives are evolving, influencing public understanding of MRSA.
- The shift in focus may mitigate hospital responsibility, placing onus on individual risk management.
- Understanding these media dynamics is crucial for effective public health communication regarding infectious diseases.
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