With serious lapses of hygiene in hospitals, we are now facing an epidemic of antibiotic resistant strains of potentially deadly microorganisms that are now being found outside of hospitals. One of these antibiotic resistant organisms is known as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). MRSA initially looks fairly innocent and may resemble pimples, boils or spider bites. However, they can then turn into abscesses and go into the body, causing potentially life-threatening infections. This is one of the reasons we are always wearing gloves in our clinic. MRSA is spread between patients very easily by doctors, nurses, etc. It is especially common on cell phones, ties, stethoscopes, pagers, etc. So if your doctor washes her hands and then checks her pager and touches you, that could spread MRSA or other organisms.
 
So it’s not a surprise that researchers are frantically looking for compounds that these bacteria are not resistant to and so they are turning to phytochemicals (plant-chemicals) for clues. In this study, they looked at Olive leaf extract and found that it was able to kill MRSA. Interesting it was also selective against Campylobacter jejuni, Helicobacter pylori.
 
Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2009 May;33(5):461-3. Epub 2009 Jan 9.