"Germs "will always be one step ahead of our drugstores," Gerberding said. "We have to get back to the basics" _ wash your hands and cover your cuts."

i agree with this. all we are doing is ruining our immune systems, creating stronger germs and making big $$$ for the big pharmas. back to basics is a very good way to look at things. especially if you have kids. save their immunity while you can 

hmmm, maybe that should be if we WERE dirtier slobs we wouldn't have MRSA!

just watching commercials these days is enough to make my head explode. we can't clean and provide enough air freshener to save our lives, according to *them*.

i LOVE it!  i'm making one for me!
THANK YOU!   

Isn't just like the CDC to come out and report hygeine as the reason for MRSA contamination!  Man, I think I have seen just about everything within the scope of aggressive denial with this administration and its agencies.

Just today I received a feed from the UCS, which stated,


The USC also notes this New York Times article, dated October 17, 2007:  http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE6D8153CF934A25753C1A9619C8B63

It seems to me, if screening patients for MRSA before admitting them to the hospital can reduce the number of contaminations by 60%, then each and every hospital and institution should initiate this program.  However, the one drawback to this is funding, as it was noted last week, that this sorely needed preventative measure is too expensive to put into place. 

In this day of antibiotic resistant bacterias, animals and humans, the strain of bacteria will surely sweep the country with detrimental consequences in grandiose proportions.  Yes, moreso than we are witnessing now, as this strain just keeps moving and moving further, encompassing vast areas of the US.  The USDA, FSIS, FDA and HHS sorely need to wake up from their long Van Winkle sleep before they kill us all off with their lax atttitudes and functionally inept procedures.

Sincerely,
Donna

~ The dead cannot cry out for justice; it is a duty of the living to do so for them ~
    Lois McMaster Bujold, 2002 Diplomatic Immunity, US Science Fiction Author

I understand the use of antibacterial soaps for the medical profession.

I do not however, condone the use of such soaps for home use.  There are no antibacterial soaps in my home and I am in the medical profession.  Instead the instruction of "sing the happy birthday song while using warm water and regular soap" is a great way to go.

Hey K, I don't know about the hygiene, or lack thereof being the cause for MRSA, but I will give the CDC credit for its acknowledgement of the propensity of this bacteria, as I know their site has an encyclopedia of information and a huge number of documented cases.  Actually, this is why I didn't include them under Rip's tree! 

I believe just by looking at this bacteria's name, we find out a lot about it, specifically, that it is "Methicillin-resistant".  Like its counterpart, VRSA (vanomycin-resistant), it had its origin within the medical field from the overuse of antibiotics, both on humans and animals.  Ideally, it would be wonderful if all we had to do is wash our hands and the bacteria would be forever eradicated, but it is not that simple, and alternative measures must be put in place before we have a countrywide epidemic.

Allow me a moment to relate a recent experience.  Last Friday I underwent a thyroid biopsy.  While the radiologist was explaining the procedure and what to expect afterward, he said, "And, if it gets red and infected, call your doctor immediately, because you can leave here with an infection."  I looked at him and said, "I know, MRSA."  The nurse who stood next to me said, "MRSA? What's that?"  [Right, imagine!]  I looked at her in astonishment and said, "Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus."  The radiologist looked at me in a how did you know that kind of way, smiled and told the nurse, "She's right."  So, if a doctor is willing to admit that to me, concern within the field must be pretty common place.  Yup, I respected and liked that doctor immediately, even though he was sticking needles in my throat, but his candidness left quite an impression upon me, as I would never have expected an employee of any hospital I was in to admit that so matter of factly and to the point. 

Sincerely,
Donna

~ The dead cannot cry out for justice; it is a duty of the living to do so for them ~
    Lois McMaster Bujold, 2002 Diplomatic Immunity, US Science Fiction Author