Wash Your Hands!

[Mephisto]

For those of you who don't know, I had a severe bicycle accident on August 5th. I had a compound fracture of my right clavicle, two broken ribs, a pneumothorax and a broken right wrist. I've healed fairly well, considering, but the two pins in my wrist became infected after my first visit to the orthopedic surgeon where my initial surgery was done. Fortunately, a local orthopedic surgeon I'd seen before took me on as a patient and discovered I had MRSA when he cut off the cast put on by the previous surgeon (my arm began to stink and swell which necessitated the removal of the cast).

To make a long story short, I've had two surgeries since my original accident BOTH because of MRSA related complications. This is a serious type of infection and is becoming increasingly more common. The two most important things to remember are the two things your mother likely taught you long ago; WASH YOUR HANDS and DON'T PICK YOUR NOSE!


Experts: Drug-resistant staph deaths may surpass AIDS toll

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- More than 90,000 Americans get potentially deadly infections each year from a drug-resistant staph "superbug," the government reported Tuesday in its first overall estimate of invasive disease caused by the germ.

Deaths tied to these infections may exceed those caused by AIDS, said one public health expert commenting on the new study. The report shows just how far one form of the staph germ has spread beyond its traditional hospital setting.

The overall incidence rate was about 32 invasive infections per 100,000 people. That's an "astounding" figure, said an editorial in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association, which published the study.

Most drug-resistant staph cases are mild skin infections. But this study focused on invasive infections -- those that enter the bloodstream or destroy flesh and can turn deadly.

Researchers found that only about one-quarter involved hospitalized patients. However, more than half were in the health care system -- people who had recently had surgery or were on kidney dialysis, for example. Open wounds and exposure to medical equipment are major ways the bug spreads.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/10/16/mrsa.cdc.ap/index.html

[shuize]

Can I pick my nose if I wash my hands first?

[casebro]

MRSA is getting to be more common. It seemed to originate in hospital, then moved to prisons. Places where people are crowded together.

But is there any study that proves that excessive had washing is better for us? I.E., do hospitals with all those bottles of hand sanitizers in the halls have lower rates of anything? Or just higher rates of 'feel good' ?

I think the best way for hand sanitizer to make me 'feel good' would be if I drank it.

[casebro]

Can I pick my nose if I wash my hands first?

Apparently, staph loves to live in out nostrils. Ubiquitously. Meaning, we ALL have it already. It's in the air. It's EVERYWHERE.

In fact,it is traceable by it's genes. You can prove that a patient caught it in a hospital by it's genetics.

Anyways, shuize, it's to late to prevent getting it in your sinuses. But, please, wash your hands before picking somebody else's nose.

[Mephisto]

Can I pick my nose if I wash my hands first?

Heheh, yes, but only if you wash you hands again afterwards. :)

[Mephisto]

MRSA is getting to be more common. It seemed to originate in hospital, then moved to prisons. Places where people are crowded together.

But is there any study that proves that excessive had washing is better for us? I.E., do hospitals with all those bottles of hand sanitizers in the halls have lower rates of anything? Or just higher rates of 'feel good' ?

I think the best way for hand sanitizer to make me 'feel good' would be if I drank it.

Apparently the bug is long-lived on various surfaces and can be easily transferred to the bloodstream through an open wound. Be sure that any health care providers wash their hands before touching you or that they put on a new pair of gloves before.

I have no opinion on the drinking of hand sanitizers. ;)

[Mephisto]

in addendum:

Schools closed after teen's staph-related death

BEDFORD, Virginia (AP) -- A high school student who was hospitalized for more than a week with an antibiotic-resistant staph infection has died, and officials shut down 21 schools for cleaning to keep the illness from spreading.

Ashton Bonds, 17, a senior at Staunton River High School, died Monday after he was found to have Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, his mother said.

"I want people to know how sick it made my son," Veronica Bonds said.

Staph infections, including the serious MRSA strain, have spread through schools nationwide in recent weeks, according to health and education officials.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/10/16/staph.death.ap/index.html

[Cochese]

This should go double for all you computer jockeys out there as keyboards and mice are some of the most germ infested objects you'll come across.

[sts60]

MRSA is getting to be more common. It seemed to originate in hospital, then moved to prisons. Places where people are crowded together.

But is there any study that proves that excessive had washing is better for us? I.E., do hospitals with all those bottles of hand sanitizers in the halls have lower rates of anything? Or just higher rates of 'feel good' ?

I think the best way for hand sanitizer to make me 'feel good' would be if I drank it.
There is very little reason for most people to use hand sanitizers. A little ordinary, non-antibacterial soap, worked with a little water into a good lather, followed by thorough washing under flowing water takes care of almost everything. The most important thing is the mechanical agitation to wash germs away. I wash my hands after treating/transporting patients and almost never use the antibacterial stuff. It especially annoys me to see those ads that basically tell Mom that she's guilty of child neglect if she doesn't make sure Junior uses a/b soap, or if she fails to wipe every surface in the house with a/b wipes every time somebody breathes.

[shuize]

Heheh, yes, but only if you wash you hands again afterwards. :)


But if I wash my hands, I'll just want to pick my nose again.

[Tailgater]

Welcome back Meph. I was wondering if you had just stopped posting. Hope you're feeling better.:)

To Cochese, I agree. Ever wonder what that black funk is that clogs up the roller ball?

[Mephisto]

Welcome back Meph. I was wondering if you had just stopped posting. Hope you're feeling better.:)

To Cochese, I agree. Ever wonder what that black funk is that clogs up the roller ball?

Hey dude, it's good to see you're still around! :)

[SteveGrenard]

The press is full of accounts of MRSA and the MRSA epidemic, well, of sorts.

The only thing is there is really no such thing as MRSA ...anymore.

This infection, being called MRSA, should properly be called ORSA and yes, it is no less serious.

Oxacillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus is the same thing as MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staph.Aureus). The lab test for antimicrobial efficacy in the past used Methicillin, now uses Oxacillin. Why is Oxacillin tested instead of Methicillin? Oxacillin is more resistant to degradation in storage and is more likely to detect most heteroresistant strains. In addition, Methicillin is no longer commercially available in the United States. Antimicrobials like Oxacillin, Nafcillin, and Vancomycin now are used for treatment of S. aureus infections.

http://www.caercoork.com/orsa/orsa.html