Video: Resistant MRSA cropping up everywhere

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Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus auereas is a big word for a big problem in hospitals.

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found more than 94,000 people were diagnosed with MRSA in 2005, and it was linked to more than 18,000 deaths.

A company called Cepheid has developed a way to identify the exact strain of MRSA in just an hour, instead of a couple of days.

"You can get the results immediately and that will help them get the most appropriate antibiotic," said John Bishop, Cepheid CEO.

That means patients get effective treatment fast.

The rapid test also means hospitals learn right away when a patient may be infectious, and put them in isolation, preventing the spread of MRSA to other patients.

It starts with a simple nasal swab from a patient, then in just one hour a machine reads the DNA of the infecting organism to determine exactly what it is. And there are other benefits. Some patients have MRSA and don't even know it, but studies show those patients are 14 times more likely to develop an infection during surgery.

"A lot of surgeons today are wanting to patients to get tested prior to having the procedure," said Bishop.

If this machine indicates they do have MRSA, they can be treated first and reduce their risk of infection during surgery.

Six out of seven people infected with MRSA get the bacteria at a health-care facility.

Beginning in December, Washington state will require hospitals to report all patient cases of MRSA.