Superbug Book Report

Germaphobes beware: the next incurable global epidemic is already here and, to make matters worse, you may unknowingly come in daily contact with it. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as MRSA, is the villain of Maryn McKenna’s book, a terrifying tale of the negative consequences of modern medicine. It’s the kind of book that keeps you awake at night, itching to read the next chapter- and worried you could become infected. Through vivid case studies and scary scientific evidence about what appears to be an unbeatable pathogen, McKenna’s book, Superbug, is one that will make you afraid to step foot in a hospital ever again. Published in 2010 by award-winning journalist and “Scary Disease Girl” Maryn McKenna, Superbug:

Facts of the victim’s case are laid out one by one, as if clues to a whodunit game where the culprit is ubiquitous MRSA. Descriptions are lengthy and vivid, describing everything from the patient’s painful symptoms to gruesome surgical procedures that will upset even the toughest of stomachs. This is definitely not the book to read before a large meal. The book reads like an episode of Frontline, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat until the end. Not only are the descriptions of cases terrifying, but McKenna’s word choice provides the fuel for the fire. The book uses phrases that sound as if they were pulled directly out of a Contagion sequel, such as a rare subcategory of MRSA that manifests as a “flesh eating disease.” “Cloud babies,” is a name given to infected newborns that are capable of spreading MRSA throughout hospital nurseries by shedding the bacteria on microscopic particles,. These erie definitions and surreal scientific evidence work in conjunction with McKenna’s knack for storytelling to paint a picture of the next big