Maryn McKenna offers an intense and critical look into the frightening, and ongoing, evolution of drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Though once controlled by antibiotics, the overuse of these medicines has enabled the bacteria to evolve. Those fighting the disease are engaged in a Darwinian battle that MRSA is, for the most part, winning. Entire classes of antibiotics are now ineffective against MRSA, and, to make matters worse, researchers have proven that the resistant bacteria are not a problem limited to hospitals, which used to be the case. MRSA has spread to communities and can now originate outside of hospitals.

McKenna highlights the tragic examples of patients, particularly children, who were otherwise healthy when MRSA invaded their systems, and their gruelling battles in which available drugs offered little or no help. In many cases, the infection overwhelms their systems and, to the shock of their family, the patients die within a short period of time. The stories she tells are horrifying cautionary tales.

Superbugsounds an alarm to bring wide recognition of the severity of the problem and prompt the required action from governments, healthcare facilities, prescription drug makers, and individuals at home, all of which McKenna lays out in a clear and persuasive style.