04-03-2010, 03:51 PM
MRSA has been around the USA for a long time. We were dealing with it in the hospitals in the 1980's. Now it is endemic throughout much of the world, much like Hepatitis B. I am not negating the significance of the problem, only making a point that it is not new.
MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus. It has developed a resistance to penicillin-derived antibiotics and is becoming more and more resistant. It has been suggested, though certainly not proven, that the antibacterial soaps we began using in the late 90's may have contributed significantly in the USA to the exacerbation of the resistance. Staph is generally on most people's skin. When we us antibiotics indiscriminately and antibacterial/antimicrobe products regularly, we help produce resistant forms of biologics.
The old Florence Nightingale axiom that we best resist the spread of infection by handwashing vigorously with soap and water holds true today. She was a smart old broad! I think that MRSA was slow to come to the islands as these products were also slow to come here. Now that every school kid brings a couple to school each year in the (I think) ridiculous list of what families need to contribute they are clearly over-used.
So, do yourselves a favor. Do not use the antimicrobial/antibacterial soaps unless you have an open cut/wound. Just use plain old soap and warm water and lather up. It is better for us all.
I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet
hit the floor each morning, the devil says
"Oh Crap, She's up!"
MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus. It has developed a resistance to penicillin-derived antibiotics and is becoming more and more resistant. It has been suggested, though certainly not proven, that the antibacterial soaps we began using in the late 90's may have contributed significantly in the USA to the exacerbation of the resistance. Staph is generally on most people's skin. When we us antibiotics indiscriminately and antibacterial/antimicrobe products regularly, we help produce resistant forms of biologics.
The old Florence Nightingale axiom that we best resist the spread of infection by handwashing vigorously with soap and water holds true today. She was a smart old broad! I think that MRSA was slow to come to the islands as these products were also slow to come here. Now that every school kid brings a couple to school each year in the (I think) ridiculous list of what families need to contribute they are clearly over-used.
So, do yourselves a favor. Do not use the antimicrobial/antibacterial soaps unless you have an open cut/wound. Just use plain old soap and warm water and lather up. It is better for us all.
I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet
hit the floor each morning, the devil says
"Oh Crap, She's up!"
I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet
hit the floor each morning, the devil says
"Oh Crap, She's up!"
hit the floor each morning, the devil says
"Oh Crap, She's up!"