Glossary

Acronyms

WHO - World Health Organization

CDC - Center for Disease Control and Prevention

PHAC - Public Health Agency of Canada

Bacteria

Staphylococcus aureus - the cause of infections such as strep throat. The variant resistant to methicillin is commonly known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA.

Clostridium difficile - commonly referred to as C. difficle; a common problem in hospitals and nursing homes. It is often caused by antibiotic disruption of other gut flora, allowing for C. difficle overgrowth and infection/

Mycobacterium tuberculosis - the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis (TB).

Enterococcus faecium - common to the human intestinal tract, often contracted from time spent in a hospital environment. Sometimes resistant to carbapenem - an "antibiotic of last resort".