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This Should Alarm YOU!

Mephisto

Philosopher
Mephisto
Joined
Apr 10, 2005
Messages
6,064
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
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Any news of the bicycle?


Clostridium dificile has already overtaken MRSA as the major problem in UK hospitals.


Resistant "superbugs" are the best example of natural selection in action since Biston betularia.

(Google Hospital Superbugs for more horror stories).
 
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Staph is everywhere. Everybody has it. Usually in our nostrils. So no point in washing up before picking your nose. But you probably should wash your hands before picking somebody else's nose.

Hey, what all those hand sanitizers in the hospital hallways is the main advantage merely 'feel good'? Has there been any study to show there effectiveness? Or would I maximize my 'feel good'-ness by drinking the stuff instead?
 
casebro said:
Hey, what all those hand sanitizers in the hospital hallways is the main advantage merely 'feel good'? Has there been any study to show there effectiveness? Or would I maximize my 'feel good'-ness by drinking the stuff instead?
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Yes, they are effective, and yes, there are lots of studies. The difficulty is that they require proper use in order to be effective. A little sloppiness can let bugs through.
 
How did they measure effectiveness- cultures from hands, or actual spread of infections amongst humans?
 
casebro said:
How did they measure effectiveness- cultures from hands, or actual spread of infections amongst humans?
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I believe both have been investigated at various times. Hands aren't the only vector for transmitting disease, bad habits can negate the usefulness of those cleansers, and they're not absolutely perfect, but they do work, and aren't just for show. The fundamental problem at this point is that hospitals are full of sick, infectious people. Can't really solve that one.
 
casebro said:
Staph is everywhere. Everybody has it. Usually in our nostrils. So no point in washing up before picking your nose. But you probably should wash your hands before picking somebody else's nose.

Hey, what all those hand sanitizers in the hospital hallways is the main advantage merely 'feel good'? Has there been any study to show there effectiveness? Or would I maximize my 'feel good'-ness by drinking the stuff instead?
Click to expand...

They are about 70% alcohol, so mix it with orange juice.:D:eye-poppi
 
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