Magazine Subscriptions Blog

here’s a departure from our usual banter on health magazine subscriptions because of the recent epidemic sweeping our nation. pls read this from a good friend and tune back in again when we discuss more of this issue from other articles we cull from health magazines like Kiplingers.

jason

Serious MRSA Infections More Common

Friday, Nov 2 2007

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a drug-resistant strain of Staph which has been getting a lot of media attention recently, having caused several serious infections in schools, especially in student athletes. This search for MRSA in Google News reveals the many stories and heightened concern that this bacterium has been generating.

A few years ago MRSA infections occurred only in hospitals or nursing homes. It became prevalent in these settings because the wide use of broad spectrum antibiotics selected for resistant strains by killing all other bacteria. In the last few years, however, MRSA has become very common in the community. Patients who have never been in healthcare facilities are getting serious MRSA infections. This became so common that doctors had to change the antibiotics that we were using to treat community-acquired skin infections. The previous first line antibiotic, cephalexin (Keflex), isn’t effective against MRSA and is now rarely used for skin infections.

This Times article and this fact list by the Centers for Disease Control have very useful summaries of what MRSA infections look like, and how to prevent them. I encourage you to take a look.

We’re stuck in an escalating arms race with microorganisms in which our ever-improving antimicrobial medicines are being met with ever-increasing bacterial drug resistance. Prevention seems to be the best strategy: frequent and meticulous hand washing, laundering items like towels that are used by more than one person, and frequently cleaning surfaces that touch bare skin, like shower floors. Twenty-first century pharmaceuticals have made old-fashioned hygiene more essential than ever.

(Thanks to Rachel G. for sending me a link to the Times article.)

© 2007. Albert Fuchs M.D. Inc. All rights reserved.

This weekly email is also posted to my medical news page. You have my permission to forward it to anyone who may be interested, as long as it is forwarded in its entirety. Obviously, this is intended to provide general education and should be used to supplement, not replace, the advice of your doctor.

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Previous posts:

Learning to Say “I’m Sorry”

Steroids Help for Bell’s Palsy, Antivirals Don’t

Statins Have Long-Lasting Benefits

Chronic Lyme Disease – Still on the Fiction Bookshelf

Nitpicking About the Flu Vaccine

Shocking News: Diabetics Should Exercise

Ignore Epidemiology, Maybe It’ll Go Away

Some Food Additives Increase Hyperactivity in Children

Surgery for Weight Loss May Save Lives

Vitamin D Deficiency is Common and Dangerous

Sincerely,

Albert Fuchs, M.D.
Internal Medicine
8500 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 605
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Phone: 310·652·1900 Fax: 310·652·1998
E-mail: albertf@albertfuchs.com
Website: www.albertfuchs.com

E-mail is not always checked daily, so

The intent of this communication is to bring to the forefront of your attention a developing national medical concern. Our goal is not to cause fear and panic, rather to educate our readers on steps that we can take to prevent its spread. Many of you have undoubtedly already heard about the recent spread of the infectious organism MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or “staph”) amongst several schools nationwide. Several children have died, and entire school systems are shutting down to undertake massive disinfecting operations.

The cases to date do not justify classifying the spread of MRSA as an epidemic. However, we feel that it is crucial to bring important facts to light so that parents and faculty alike are prepared to deal with the growing problem.

 
Briefly, the bacteria MRSA is a virulent organism that is not cured by standard oral antibiotic therapies, such as penicillin. For many years, this virulent organism was frequently seen only in hospitals amongst the sickest patients with weakened immune systems. MRSA is a common cause of skin infections, pneumonia, surgical wound infections, and bloodstream infections, and it can cause a rapid clinical decline in its host. Importantly, differentiating between MRSA and a more routine staph infection is not possible based on physical examination alone.

 
In recent years, doctors have been also finding the organism MRSA as the culprit in infections originating in the community setting. Data from 2003 indicates that 12% of MRSA infections are community acquired, and the more recent yet unpublished numbers will likely show an upward trend. Skin infections, the primary site of infections for community diagnosed cases, may look like a pimple or boil and can be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage.

 
There are simple preventative measures focused on practicing good hygiene that we strongly encourage following, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

 
   1. Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

   2. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.

   3. Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.

   4. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.

Given the above, and given the difficulties of frequent hand washing in schools, we strongly encourage all schools to take immediate measures to increase the number of alcohol-based hand sanitizers available for students and faculty.

I know this is a departure from our magazine subscription blogging but it was important to send this out.