Rep. Waxman Chairs Hearing on MRSA on C-SPAN 2 NOW

[DemBones DemBones]

Discussing MRSA in communities as well as hospitals.

[rateyes]

1. That is some serious shit...

People...WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP AND WARM WATER, OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

I've known two people this year that went septic with MRSA. Ate up their hip joints...lucky it didn't kill them. One woman I know was hospitalized for all but 4 days in a 6 month period.

Thank goodness someone is talking about this.

[DemBones DemBones]

3. That's damned scary. I was reading that shaking hands is a way to get MRSA.

Shaking hands can spread all sorts of bacteria and viruses, as can touching surfaces like doorknobs that have been touched by many other people, or just one sick person. Keeping your hands away from your face until you can wash them well, or use hand sanitizer, is the thing to do. The site I read said you should rub the hand sanitizer on your hands thoroughly and allow it to air dry so I won't be drying my hands on a Kleenex in the future!

The representative of CDC talked about the dangers of bacterial infections, including MRSA infections, following cases of influenza.

We get a flu shot every year and a pneumonia shot every five years. I know a lot of people don't like to get flu shots but with MRSA as a possible complication, it might be time to reconsider that position. We've never had a reaction to flu vaccine or pneumonia vaccine and I've never heard of anyone having a reaction that was as bad as influenza is, i.e., that put them in bed for two weeks with high fever, possibly with chills and hallucinations due to the high fever, aching all over, unable to eat much, having to make an effort to drink fluids like Gatorade and ginger ale, taking something to reduce fever. We had it in 1970 and in 1982; after the second time, we started getting the shots.

[annabanana]

2. A case was recently diagnosed in our local High School. .

They sent a letter home. Both my kids are out of there now, but I seem to still be on their mailing list. I hope people are being careful.

[DemBones DemBones]

4. It seems to be on its way to being a crisis if it isn't already.

Besides washing your hands often, the CDC person said that in hospitals, catheters shouldn't be used as often as they are, that they're often not necessary but are used for the convenience of the nursing staff, so if you're in the hospital, you should question the use of catheters and also pay attention to whether the staff are changing their gloves as they should.

I remember when doctors always came into the exam room and washed their hands as they began chatting with you about how you were feeling. Most aren't doing that anymore and even if they're using hand sanitizer between patients, they're touching doorknobs, your chart, etc. before they shake your hand. Dentists are much better about washing hands and wearing gloves, or at least mine is. Of course, they are putting their hands in your mouth, so they should be, but with MRSA, I think doctors should be more careful.