AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is a virus that attacks and destroys the immune system of its host. Without an immune system, an individual can die from common illnesses such as pneumonia or the flu. MRSA or Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus is a common staph that has become resistant to most antibiotics. Millions of people have died from both AIDS and MRSA. However, studies are showing that MRSA is now “outkilling” AIDS. The numbers are surprising. An average of 18,000 people die from MRSA each year. However, AIDS only claims an average of 12,000 deaths each year. Why does MRSA claim more lives than AIDS?

MRSA used to be confined to healthcare setting only. It would get passed from patient to patient on the hands of health care workers. However, MRSA is now found in the community. Restaurant workers, schools and day-care centers are testing positive for these antibiotic resistant bacteria. As more and more people come into contact with MRSA through everyday activities, the risk for infection increases.

AIDS Versus MRSA: Modes of Transmission

Let’s compare the mode of transmission for MRSA against the mode of transmission for AIDS. AIDS is spread through blood, semen or vaginal fluids. It is known as a sexually transmitted disease. However, you can also catch AIDS by using contaminated needles or by getting the blood from an infected person into a cut you may have on your body. A mother can pass this virus onto her baby. It is rare to catch AIDS from a blood transfusion due to the stringent screening processes but it does happen.

MRSA can be transmitted from person to person through direct contact with an infected person. These bacteria can also live on inanimate objects such as clothing and furniture. When you touch the affected objects, you are at risk for getting MRSA. It is much easier to catch MRSA than it is to catch AIDS.

On top of this, MRSA infections are getting stronger as doctors continue to over prescribe antibiotics. As of now, there are only a few antibiotics that are effective against MRSA, but as doctors continue to prescribe antibiotics needlessly, scientists are predicting that we may see a new super bug emerge even more deadly than MRSA. As it grows stronger it can begin to kill people more quickly. There have recently been cases of MRSA that have spread so rapidly the victim was dead in a couple of days.

AIDS is currently at a disadvantage because it has been studied intensely since it was discovered in the early 1980s. Millions upon millions of dollars have been put into AIDS research. Major celebrities, corporations and government agencies have worked hard to bring AIDS into the public eyes. Medications and treatments have been developed that can extend the life of an AIDS patient for many years.

MRSA has not been fortunate enough to have the monetary backing for research like AIDS has so it has spread in silence. If there is no money for extensive research, a cure for MRSA may never be found. In the meantime, this super bug will continue to spread, growing stronger, and kill.

The Future of AIDS and MRSA

The future of AIDS and the future of MRSA look very different. In July of 2010, the government released the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). This is a roadmap that has been developed to help reduce the impact of HIV. It outlines clear priorities for HIV prevention and care in the United States.

Some of the goals of the NHAS are:

• Decrease the number of new infections by 25 percent every year.

• Reduce the HIV transmission rate by 30 percent.

• Increase the percentage of newly diagnosed that get linked to care within three months from 65 to 85 percent. This is critical since more people will be getting early intervention, which will significantly increase lifespan.

• NHAS wants to intensify education for HIV prevention in communities where HIV is most prevalent.

• They want to educate all Americans about the threat of HIV and how to prevent it.

In addition to the government’s strategic plan for reducing HIV and AIDS, the CDC will also implement a high-impact approach. They will use a combination of scientifically-proven, cost effective interventions to impact the HIV prevention efforts. The CDC will provide significant funding for these programs. $359 million will be provided annually to help states and cities with high-impact HIV interventions. $111 million will be provided for HIV testing for high-risk communities.

The number of HIV and AIDS infected individuals is expected to decrease over the coming decade with help from these programs. The NHAS envisions the U.S. as a country where new infections with HIV are rare. Pre-exposure prophylaxis medications have been developed to prevent infection with HIV. The CDC is currently trying to decide the best way to implement this medication in the most cost-effective manner.

The CDC says that MRSA infections continue to be a high priority. They are actively tracking MRSA cases within healthcare settings and various communities. Even though there has been some evidence the MRSA in the healthcare setting is declining, there is still no major plan in place to eradicate these life-threatening bacteria outside hospital walls.

CA-MRSA or community-acquired MRSA is on the rise. This is a major concern since everyone can be exposed to MRSA in the community. This type of MRSA is showing up in young, healthy people. A 2007 CDC report found that 14% of the individuals with MRSA had CA-MRSA. This infection shows no signs of slowing down. Another study conducted on children in Texas found a whopping 14 fold increase in CA-MRSA from 1999-2001.

If CA-MRSA continues to grow at this rate it will become a serious epidemic. The rates of death from MRSA will continue to exceed the death rates from AIDS. More research is needed to find a solution to this problem. Individuals must take precautions to help stop the spread of CA-MRSA. It is critical the CDC and other health agencies increase their education efforts, as they have done with AIDS, if they want to put a halt to MRSA.