Final answer:
The subject is Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a type of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that poses challenges in treatment. Antibiotics such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole still effectively treat MRSA. New antibiotics, like MC21-A, are currently being researched for efficacy against MRSA.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is a strain of Staphylococcus aureus bacterium that has developed resistance to various antibiotics, making infections difficult to treat. MRSA falls under the category of antibiotic-resistant 'superbugs,' a direct consequence of the indiscriminate use of antibiotics. This resistance includes a major class of antibiotics known as β-lactams, which includes methicillin and penicillin. MRSA infections can occur in healthcare settings, termed hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA), or in the community, known as community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA).
Despite this resistance, there are still some active antibiotics that can treat MRSA infections. These include trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ), clindamycin, tetracyclines (such as doxycycline and minocycline), and linezolid. Moreover, new antibiotics are being explored, like MC21-A (bromophene), derived from marine bacteria, which has shown effectiveness in fluorescence microscopy tests, staining MRSA with SYTOX Green.