Potentially deadly, drug-resistant staph infections are more common, both in and out of hospitals, than experts once thought, a new study warns.

 

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are the top cause of skin and soft tissue infections among people in hospitals and can result in severe and even fatal disease. In fact, MRSA infections account for almost 19,000 deaths and more than 94,000 life-threatening illnesses each year in the United States.

 

For the rest of the story

http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=7222775

I contracted MRSA during the time I was seriously ill in the late 90's. I can't be sure what effects it really had on me, because I had so much happening at the time. I do know that I was hospitalized with a severe blistering skin syndrome on my legs around that time.

 

During the time that I was MRSA-positive, we couldn't allow my young neice and nephew into our home. I had to visit them in a public park, due to the seriousness of the infection, and their age. It caused a lot of emotional pain; but I really never felt physically ill from it. After many tests and many rounds of antibiotics, I was finally declared MRSA free a year or so later.

Read this yesterday. My question is this: Will this now become a priority in HS lockerrooms? 20 years ago I probably couldn't tell you what a staph infection was, now they seem to pop up in every town during football season. At what point does it become a priority for the school to make sure that the kids/coaches/teachers/etc are protected as much as possible from this type of infection? I can think of more than a few lockerrooms in NKY that I wouldn't want to shower in.....:creepy:

MRSA and VRE have been around for years, and people have been contracting them in the hospital setting for many years. I see this article as an alarmist approach to showing the results of this report. I come in contact with people who have MRSA and VRE very frequently, I have not contracted it, and I am not worried about contracting it. People with weaker immune systems are more susceptible, like people with diabetes, immobility, and people who have frequent surgeries. It is common among these people, healthy people rarely contract MRSA or VRE. This report does not tell what people have contracted it, and I am sure these are people who have numerous health problems, people in nursing homes contract MRSA and VRE very frequently.

Read this yesterday. My question is this: Will this now become a priority in HS lockerrooms? 20 years ago I probably couldn't tell you what a staph infection was, now they seem to pop up in every town during football season. At what point does it become a priority for the school to make sure that the kids/coaches/teachers/etc are protected as much as possible from this type of infection? I can think of more than a few lockerrooms in NKY that I wouldn't want to shower in.....:creepy:

It should and not just this virus, but others. HS locker rooms, showers and the equipment, players are in contact with, are breeding grounds.

 

Proper disinfection, needs to be done. If after each use, a coach would towel off equipment, spray disinfectant or bleach/clorox combination, it would help minimize spread of some, until the staff could properly clean.

 

Have your players wash their hands, once arriving before starting, take a break during and certainly, before leaving....3 times minimum, each time at the locker/weight room.

If you need a procedure done at a hospital, make sure you're the first person scheduled in the morning!

MRSA and VRE have been around for years, and people have been contracting them in the hospital setting for many years. I see this article as an alarmist approach to showing the results of this report. I come in contact with people who have MRSA and VRE very frequently, I have not contracted it, and I am not worried about contracting it. People with weaker immune systems are more susceptible, like people with diabetes, immobility, and people who have frequent surgeries. It is common among these people, healthy people rarely contract MRSA or VRE. This report does not tell what people have contracted it, and I am sure these are people who have numerous health problems, people in nursing homes contract MRSA and VRE very frequently.

This is true. It's been around since the 60's. The recent death of a teenager has thrust the problem back into the spotlight for a while. Also, the suggestion that more have died from MRSA than from AIDS has peaked the interest of the media; and (as usual) they're running with it.

 

MRSA is a grave danger for those in the hospital. The weaker you are, and the more compromised your immune system, the more vulnerable you are. That's why, when I was sick, my doctors (and family) went to extraordinary measures to keep me out of the hospital environment.

 

The blame can't be laid entirely on the heads of health care workers. But they do play a critical role in both its spread, and its prevention.

Had this stuff my senior year in high school, and have seen it probably four or five times since. It's some bad stuff, all coaches should have their players take their equipment home at least once a week for cleaning.

They need to have a good person to clean locker rooms and showers. and Yes players need to wash their practice clothing often. (or get mommy to )

This just doesn't effect people who play sport's. Toddler's, school children and their families are getting it also. It's pretty strong.

I have heard that this is coming into the country primarily through illegals coming in from Mexico, could this be true?

I have heard that this is coming into the country primarily through illegals coming in from Mexico, could this be true?

As I said above, it's been here -- at least -- for decades.

As I said above, it's been here -- at least -- for decades.

This is apparently a new strain.

I know he's a bit of whack job....

 

We are told this is a new strain of staph. But the good doctors are either ignorant of epidemiology or afraid to tell the truth.Let us reason together.New, drug-resistant strains of bacteria appear in our hospitals over the past 10 years. Some are the result of over-use of antibiotics. But others are being brought into emergency rooms by the millions of illegal aliens who use our hospitals for primary care. Doctors, nurses and others then spread these "germs" throughout the hospital. And, of course, when illegals visit their relatives in the wards they also spread the gift that keeps on giving, drug-resistant staph infections. This is my own theory. I have an earned Ph.D. in epidemiology and human nutrition from the University of California, Berkeley (1978). MICHAEL SAVAGE

There was an article in Ky Enquire today about this. My sister in law called tonight because of the new's coverage it received today. (many source's). It's scary - her spouse died from a similiar illness 10 yrs ago. It came on very quick and she happened to be out of town at the time.