MRSA Deaths May Surpass AIDS Deaths
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I’ve written numerous articles about the dangers of MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) or what some call the “superbug”.
Today the reported that over 90,000 Americans get potentially deadly infections annually from a drug-resistant staph and that deaths caused by MRSA may actually exceed those caused by AIDS.
One of the sneakier characteristics of MRSA is that is it can be carried by perfectly healthy people. It tends to hang out on your skin and in your nose. The superbug used to be considered to be a risk only in hospitals and other healthcare settings. But, it has made its way out into the community. You can pick up MRSA on shopping cards, playground equipment, sports facilities, schools and daycare centers, …pretty much anywhere.
My daughter had several outbreaks of MRSA when she first started to attend her old pre-school. The infections started out as very small, red pimple-like sores on her torso. They would quickly grow larger and boil-like, coming to a head several times. They were hot to the touch and sensitive. Eventually, we would end up in the doctor’s office to have them drained. It was unpleasant and frightening.
MRSA can enter the bloodstream and attack the soft tissue. In fact, MRSA is said to be the culprit in the death yesterday of a 17-year-old Virginia high school senior. Doctors said the germ had spread to his kidneys, liver, lungs and muscles around his heart.
Good hygiene can be the most important aspect of preventing infection. Wash your hands frequently and properly, especially after sneezing into your hand or picking your nose. Wash your hands after shopping and touching thing is public. Clean scrapes and cuts quickly. We use Staphaseptic (which you can get at any drugstore) instead of a typical antibiotic ointment, because MRSA powers right through ointments like Neosporin.
I’m just happy the medical community is finally taking the time to recognize the epidemic of MRSA in the community. The more we make this issue stay in the spotlight, the better we can all be equipped to fight it.
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