``European microbiologists have assembled a database to help combat the rising tide of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

``A multinational effort involving 12 research centres has collected information on the known European strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and has standardized the technique for identifying the bacteria (S. Murchan et al. J. Clin. Microbiol. 41, 1574?1585; 2003).

```We've mapped the existing distribution of strains and followed the current spread of others,' says Barry Cookson, a microbiologist at London's Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL) who led the initiative. The results confirm reports that some strains of MRSA have managed to jump between hospitals, both within Europe and farther afield.

``Although normal strains of S. aureus are common and relatively harmless, MRSA has become a significant problem in hospitals, where it tends to prosper because of the pervasive use of antibiotics. The bacteria can infect the lungs, bones and bloodstream of patients, and are responsible for thousands of deaths worldwide each year.''

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