More evidence MRSA is becoming common outside of hospitals

[TZ]

Staph Infection Spreads to More Schools
October 18, 2007

Kate Ryan, WTOP Radio

WASHINGTON -- The same type of staph infection that killed a Virginia high school student this week is now being reported in several Montgomery County and Fairfax County schools.

The latest case of Methicillin-Resistant Staph Aureus -- or MRSA -- was reported at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda on Monday. Principal Alan Goodwin sent a letter to parents informing them that a student was diagnosed with the infection.

Approximately 13 students, mostly athletes, have been diagnosed with MRSA, Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Jerry Weast wrote Wednesday in a letter to parents.

Eight schools -- Sherwood, Whitman, Poolesville, Quince Orchard and Rockville High schools and Laytonsville, Damascus and Candlewood Elementary schools -- have reported cases of MRSA, Montgomery County Public Schools spokesman Brian Edwards says.

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=703&sid=1271054
I am not trying to be an alarmist, and certainly this is not an epidemic at this point, but there seemed to be some people believing that this is not a current problem, and thats just dead wrong. There is excellent advice in this article on how to prevent the spread of it, with washing hands frequently being the best advice....

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

1. Washing hands

is always a good strategy, but there is another tactic we can all take that may save ourselves and future generations: do not use antibiotics until you have exhausted every other option.

Also, swaddling our kids in antibacterial this and germ-killing that will have long-term consequences on their health, as they move through life and encounter rhinoviruses and flu bugs for which their bodies never developed antibodies.

[TZ]

3. Yep.

I get really irritated with the people who demand anti-biotics for flu and other viral issues (which anti-biotics aren't effective agaisnt) and the doctors who enable this type of irresponsible behavior.Also though another issue are those who are prescribed anti-biotics fro a true infection and stop taking it when they FEEL BETTER. Always finish anti-biotics once you start..if not that can also contribute to drug resistance in bacteria

[notadmblnd]

4. I was listening to a Dr this morning and she said

many of those antibiotic hand washes are really no better than plain water. Probably the best thing one can do to improve the hygiene in the surface areas around them is to use a little bleach in your water when cleaning bathrooms and kitchens.

[AndyA]

2. I'm not surprised - people today are really pigs.

Actually, pigs are probably cleaner.

The men's room in the office building I work in is just disgusting. And this is a nice professional building with attorneys, architects, engineering firms, etc.

But I see people using the rest room and leaving without washing their hands. YUCK. Who in the hell wants to touch the door handle to open the door after some jerk has just finished wiping himself and then not washing his hands? And these are men old enough to know better.

Others splash a bit of cold water on their hands, the mirror, the vanity, and then dry. No soap, and perhaps five seconds of water. Not enough to do much good.

By middle afternoon, the rest room is downright disgusting.

Is it any wonder disease is running rampant like it is? When people do this, they impact the health of everyone who uses that facility.

Someday, I'm going to say something to someone about their vile bathroom habits, because they need to know others are aware of their poor hygiene.

[Blue Diadem]

7. We were just talking about this yesterday, filthy conditions.

Dh and I were talking about the workplace lunchrooms and bathrooms and I mentioned the schools to him from when our kids were in school. I had gone to help out at a benefit and saw the condition of the kitchen/cafeteria area in the Jr. high school and was appalled. Wiping off the tables where the kids eat resulted in a white towel turning brownish black.

Then my granddaughter came home from school yesterday..she's elementary age. She told me she's refusing to use the school restrooms because they are so disgusting.

[bdamomma]

9. in a hospital the first thing they tell you in Infection Control

is to wash your hands!!!! It is very important.

[AngryAmish]

11. I've cleaned both mens and womens restrooms

I would clean a men's room any day of the week. Ladies, the wastebasket is there for a reason. And sit, not hover.

[greenman3610]

5. eat right, sleep well, keep immune function strong

eventually, one can hope that russian phage therapy will
be brought along to handle mrsa infections - difficult because
it uses natural, hard to patent organisms,

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/interviews/interview/553/

I work in a hospital, and am paranoid about these bugs.
important to remember though, you already have
bugs living in you that can kill you, for instance, in your
nasal passages that, given the opportunity, could cause
meningitis. The properly balanced immune system
maintains the right relationship with the bugs within and
without.

[MisterHowdy]

6. Just one more thing to be scared about - thank you.

I'm sure MRSA is serious and is a real problem,
but what it boils down to
is its just another way to die.
Another thing to worry about. I don't need it.
I worry too much already.

cheers.

[Hubert Flottz]

8. My mother died from MRSA about a year ago.

It got into her lungs and killed her. The hospital could do nothing to stop it.

[bdamomma]

10. oh, I am so sorry about your loss.

Hospitals have so much bacteria floating around.

[Virginia Dare]

12. How terrible, my sympathies..

I've heard that infection is the leading cause of death in hospitals. My father had some minor surgery last year, and they were very anxious to get him out of there because of the risk of infection.

He really should have stayed a couple more days because he was in such pain and discomfort, but the risk is just too great.

[Evergreen Emerald]

13. An athelete at my daughter's school had it.

They bleached down the weight room, the gym and the lockers. My daughter uses the weight room alot, and it worries me.

[Little Star]

14. Just saw on TV about 2 more schools...

in South Western Connecticut having cases. Schools are closed and being cleaned.