What is this "superbug".

I just saw a news flash,could not hear the details, but it seems that the dress code for health professionals in the UK will be more strict due to this superbug.

I am not sure what it is about, does anyone else know what this is?

Thanks

It's MRSA, Methacillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. A mean little bug if you ask me. I had it 3 years ago and my 5 year old had it this summer.

You can read about it here

MRSA Superbug More Prevalent Than First Thought - New Survey (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/75129.php)

I think they are referring to the antibiotic resistant string of viruses that are cropping up...

It is an antibiotic resistant strain of a staph infection. It used to be found only in hospitals, but has now cropped up among the general population and can be an extremely serious infection.

Or, what J said... LOL

I heard it was starting to attack healthy people now too...

Thanks,

But why does the hospital dress code have anything to do with it OR are they talking about "cleaner" and not stricter dress code?

The way were going we'll be back to the 18th centaury before we know it. Have to get round to developing some new antibiotics some time soon...

Ahh the joys of selection and evolution.

They should definitely tighten up the dress codes. Down with the petri dish ties! We also need to improve hospital hygiene so decrease infections spreading. Get those mops out!

It's absolutely stupid, everyone was so in love with the wonderkund antibiotics they forgot about basic nursing and hygiene. It's all well and great researching cancer cures and employing hundreds of pounds an hour consultants but if you cut back on sweepers and cleaners then it's all completely useless. Very short sighted indeed.

Talking about regressing did you know they are using ultra pure honey in wounds to lyse the bacteria just like the old days. Genius - there is hope yet.

Wow kind of went off on one there... sorry guys I feel calmer now

The way were going we'll be back to the 18th centaury before we know it. Have to get round to developing some new antibiotics some time soon....

Ahh the joys of selection and evolution.

They should definitely tighten up the dress codes. Down with the petri dish ties! We also need to improve hospital hygiene so decrease infections spreading. Get those mops out!

It's absolutely stupid, everyone was so in love with the wonderkund antibiotics they forgot about basic nursing and hygiene. It's all well and great researching cancer cures and employing hundreds of pounds an hour consultants but if you cut back on sweepers and cleaners then it's all completely useless. Very short sighted indeed.

Talking about regressing did you know they are using ultra pure honey in wounds to lyse the bacteria just like the old days. Genius - there is hope yet.

Wow kinda went off on one there... sorry guys I feel calmer now

Love hearing everyone's thoughts anytime,anywhere...
So keep sharing.:)

Love hearing everyones thoughts anytime,anywhere...
so keep sharing.:)

You shouldn't say that I really don't need the encouragment! :p

Lol... this is one of the reasons my pediatrician refuses to use antibiotics unless absolutely necessary, he likes to give the body the opportunity to cure itself first... he also tries to rotate any antibiotics, so my son doesn't become resistant to one or the other... Ive stopped using antibiotic soaps in my home as well..

*edit **i mean antibacterial soap... LOL. I left in in there so you could all see the status of my mind at the moment... :D

lol...this is one of the reasons my pediatrician refuses to use antibiotics unless absolutely necessary, he likes to give the body the opportunity to cure itself first...he also tries to rotate any antibiotics, so my son doesnt become resistant to one or the other...Ive stopped using antibiotic soaps in my home as well..

How I wish there were more of those type of Docs than the so in love with antibio... :eek: Docs.

Alkaline you don't need to worry about antibacterial soaps they can't become resistant to these they work in a different way. Antibiotics have to target the organism specifically and ignore your cells so are easier to evolve out of the way.

Whereas antibacterial soaps just kill cells, they contain detergents which disrupt the cell walls. You can't use them for medicine because (as you'll know) they'll kill you too if you gave them I.V. or ate them!

Oh I thought I read somewhere that the antibacterial soaps were making it harder for our bodies to fight off infections, because we were so use to sterile environments... they say that a little contamination is actually good for us, builds our immunity... maybe I heard wrong...

Ahh! My brain went down totally the wrong path because I was thinking about MRSA.

Yeah, you are right, a too sterile environment will decrease the immune systems 'library' of bugs, leaving it open to more serious infections at a later date. Also it is thought that a decrease in environmental 'challanges' from various nasties is increasing autoimmune diseases - the body not having anything alien to attack attacks itself. This is one theory proposed for the raise in childhood asthma.

Never thought to get rid of antibacterial soaps myself. Still think they are a good idea after handling raw meat - nut how often would a wee one do that anyway?

I was a dirty child used to eat stuff off trees so I must have an immune system of steal by now! Well I don't have asthma anyway.

Ahh! My brain went down totally the wrong path because I was thinking about MRSA.

Yeah, you are right, a too sterile environment will decrease the immune systems 'library' of bugs, leaving it open to more serious infections at a later date. Also it is thought that a decrease in environmental 'challanges' from various nasties is increasing autoimmune diseases - the body not having anything alien to attack attacks itself. This is one theory proposed for the raise in childhood asthma.

Never thought to get rid of antibacterial soaps myself. Still think they are a good idea after handling raw meat - nut how often would a wee one do that anyway?

I was a dirty child used to eat stuff off trees so I must have an immune sytem of steal by now! Well I don't have asthma anyway.

Oh I still use it in my kitchen, but no longer in my bathroom sink and I don't use that hand sanitizer any longer, we just wash our hands the regular way...

What is this "superbug".

I just saw a news flash,could not hear the details, but it seems that the dress code for health professionals in the UK will be more strict due to this superbug.

I am not sure what it is about, does anyone else know what this is?

Thanks


By bug they mean microbe.

Staphylococcus is one of many bacteria that are becoming more resistant to a lot of antibiotics.

Steptococcus and mycobacterium tuberculus are other examples.

Staph and strep also normally live on our skin and nose, and normally do not cause illness unless there is a break in the skin.


ALL viruses are resistant to antibiotics as antibiotics refer to antibacterials.



The new dress code [ gloves, masks, hand washing before and after seeing an infected patient ] is to cut down on and prevent transmission of this "superbug" to other patients and hospital staff.






Grace and Peace

Okay, to clear this up. We were talking about MRSA, and the best doctors try to let the bodies defenses build before giving an antibiotic. For MRSA, though, we have super drugs called Vancomycin, Clinodmycin, and Gentomycin (forgive my spelling of the drugs, my drug book is in my backpack in the trunk of the car). Little J's MRSA was cured this summer with Septra. So all that has to be done is a simple C&S (culture & sensitivity) to find out what the bacteria is immune to, and what will kill it. (I loved doing these tests in Microbiology).

Now, as far as the antibacterial soap goes. Yes, keep it out of the bathroom. Our bodies have something referred to as "normal flora" that we do not want to get rid of. Ridding our bodies of our normal flora opens us up to infections.

As for the antibacterial in the kitchen. It's best not to use it if you are on a septic system. You see, our septic systems (here in the US) are full of E-Coli. Yes, you got it E-Coli bacteria that helps bio degrade our waste products and keep our septic system clean. RidX or Brewers Yeast that we put in our septic systems monthly work in conjunction with the E-Coli to keep our septic systems clean. Now, when you use antibacterial soap with a septic system, the antibacterial properties kill the necessary bacteria in our septic tanks therefore leaving our systems open for lots of problems.

I know, I'm full of useless information. But I learned this all from my wonderful microbiology professor. Since I quit using antibacterial soap and using GermX instead, I have had fewer health problems with the kids and my septic system runs as smooth as butter. LOL

Inthebox,
Thanks for explaining the dress code thing, I was wondering what it meant when they said strict dress code(I wondered, suits like the astronauts!).

The new dress code [ gloves, masks, hand washing before and after seeing an infected patient ] is to cut down on and prevent transmission of this "superbug" to other patients and hospital staff.

Yes, yes, yes. In the hospital we call it uniform precautions, droplet precautions, or airborn precautions.

Inthebox,
Thanks for explaining the dress code thing, I was wondering what it meant when they said strict dress code(I wondered, suits like the astronauts!).

**giggle**

It means a gloves, mask, and in some cases gowns, hairnets and shoe covers. It is for the protection of the patients (if we are sick) and protection of us and other patients if we are caring for someone who is ill.

Yes, yes, yes. In the hospital we call it uniform precautions, droplet precautions, or airborn precautions.

Why does the medical world need to use different words and the news world uses laymen terms :confused: .

Very confusing... :D

We use these terms because they can mean so many different things in a hospital setting. The media uses layman's terms that are easier for the average public to understand.

For instance, you would not know what DYSPNEA means. But if a major star were to be rushed to the hospital with DYSPNEA, you wouldn't have a clue what was wrong. So instead the media will say that the star was rushed to the hospital with shortness of breath.

Most of the medical terms have latin origins and have not changed over the years.

Thanks J9,

I know the why's... just asking as I thought it was funny,because inthebox explained the dress code and then you used three terms for it.

I just saw the confusion it would cause when a medical staff talks to a layman and each used different terms for the same thing.One may never know you were talking about the same thing.

You see, there are precautions we take in the hospital depending on the illness. Droplet precautions and airborn precautions are the way we dress (gloves, gowns, masks) when there is a respiratory infection. Universal precautions are basically just gloves.

And this is one thing we are actually taught in school. Communication techniques was an actual course. How to talk to the family/patient using terms they would understand.

This is why I don't always sound so medical when I am in the teen board, or Pregnancy board. I cannot use medical terms that you won't understand. We actually had to learn how to say these terms in ways that the general public understands.

You see, there are precautions we take in the hospital depending on the illness. Droplet precautions and airborn precautions are the way we dress (gloves, gowns, masks) when there is a respiratory infection. Universal precautions are basically just gloves.

And this is one thing we are actually taught in school. Communication techniques was an actual course. How to talk to the family/patient using terms they would understand.

This is why I don't always sound so medical when I am in the teen board, or Pregnancy board. I cannot use medical terms that you won't understand. We actually had to learn how to say these terms in ways that the general public understands.

My respect for you and those in your profession just goes up and up...

I answered before looking up the article[s] - sorry


Here is one:
U.K. Hospitals Issue Doctors' Dress Code (http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8RNF4C80&show_article=1&cat=0)

It actually makes sense. Ties , unless clipped to the shirt, flop around and are rarely washed after one use. Those white long sleeved uniform jackets, likewise, are rarely washed after one use, unless the Doctor or staff has several of them and rotates them.
Same applies to wrist watches.

It is the goal of infection prevention for all health care workers to wash their hands before and after seeing a patient , it is more difficult to do this with long sleeves.

Funny the article does not mention cleaning / disinfecting stethoscopes after each patient encounter.




Grace and Peace

I'm with InTheBox here. I posted the wrong article. Sorry.

No one cleans stethoscopes? OMG!! As a student nurse we are required to carry around alcohol swabs in our pockets. While talking to our patients we are to open the swab and clean the stethoscope. It's become a habit now.

Maybe this study, or similar studies, is what began our "habit" at our particular school.

I'm with InTheBox here. I posted the wrong article. Sorry.

No one cleans stethoscopes? OMG!!!! As a student nurse we are required to carry around alcohol swabs in our pockets. While talking to our patients we are to open the swab and clean the stethoscope. It's become a habit now.

Maybe this study, or similar studies, is what began our "habit" at our particular school.

About the wrong article,

I got some new info out of it, so more good and less harm done:p

One thing as a student nurse that bothers me is bringing these pathogens home to my family. The shoes I wear at the hospital are contaminated with the germs of the entire hospital. The uniforms that I wear come in contact with infected patients for every clinical experience.

My family laughs, but does not get it. I get home, take my shoes off in the garage, have a bathrobe hanging in the garage, change in the garage, leave shoes outside and uniforms go directly into a garbage bag then "poured" into the washing machine.

Guess I sound a little paranoid don't I? LOL

One thing as a student nurse that bothers me is bringing these pathogens home to my family. The shoes I wear at the hospital are contaminated with the germs of the entire hospital. The uniforms that I wear come in contact with infected patients for every clinical experience.

My family laughs, but does not get it. I get home, take my shoes off in the garage, have a bathrobe hanging in the garage, change in the garage, leave shoes outside and uniforms go directly into a garbage bag then "poured" into the washing machine.

Guess I sound a little paranoid don't I? LOL

We can never be too careful... especially when it comes to hospitals.

I always change and wash my hands (sometimes even bathe) after a long visit to the hospital even if it is only to visit a sick friend/family, before I carry/hold my daughter.


Talk about paranoid, I think not.:eek: