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Senior Citizen Health & Medicine
Senior Citizens May Escape the Staph Superbug with
Some Good Hygiene
College of American Pathologists says regular hand
washing can decrease the spread of antibiotic-resistant staph infections
- MRSA
 Nov. 7, 2007 Senior citizens, the most vulnerable
to diseases and infections because their aging immune systems, have been
identified as four times more likely than younger people to be attacked
by the superbug. This antibiotic-resistance germ that causes
potentially deadly staph infections, which has been regularly attacking
people in nursing homes and other health care facilities, is now on the
loose in the general population and the College of American Pathologists
say the best way to fight it may be regular hand washing and other good
hygiene practices.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
is a germ with a big name that is suddenly causing big problems for
schools and communities across the nation. MRSA is a kind of bacteria
that causes staph infections that do not respond to treatment with
common antibiotics, such as penicillin.
Until recently, cases of MRSA were most commonly
seen in hospitals and healthcare facilities; however, a growing number
of reported infections are now emerging in the general population. One
of the probable reasons that senior citizens lead in the number of
persons hit with this infection is the frequency that older people go to
healthcare facilities, either for treatment or to visit others.
"Whether it's in a hospital or at a school, MRSA is
usually transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact," said Kathleen G.
Beavis, MD, FCAP, a pathologist at Stroger Hospital of Cook County
(formerly Cook County Hospital) in Chicago, who specializes in
microbiology and infectious diseases.
"What most people may be unaware of is that an
individual does not have to appear sick - or present symptoms - to carry
this type of bacteria on their bodies. In fact, these individuals are
the most common source of transmission."
In addition to direct contact with an infected
person, MRSA bacteria can live on common surfaces, such as a table, for
a day or weeks and can be transmitted when someone touches it.
If a person does contract MRSA, the infection will
most likely appear as a skin infection in the form of pustules or boils,
which often are red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage.
These skin infections commonly occur at the sites of visible skin
trauma, such as cuts and abrasions, and areas of the body covered by
hair.
Most MRSA-related skin infections can be
effectively treated, with or without antibiotics, by draining the pus.
However, more than 94,000 Americans contracted MRSA infections in 2005,
with nearly 19,000 of those cases associated with death.
That number significantly exceeds the 17,011 people
who died from the AIDS virus that same year, according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics.
"Because MRSA has been in healthcare settings for
years, most healthcare workers are familiar with the precautions to take
to protect themselves and their patients," said Dr. Beavis. "With the
recent cases of students coming in contact with this kind of bacteria at
schools, it is important for everyone to practice good personal hygiene,
such as regular hand washing and covering cuts with bandages, to reduce
their chances of contracting or spreading this potentially
life-threatening type of bacteria."
Pathologists, physicians who examine cells and
tissue to diagnose diseases and illnesses, such as MRSA, recommend the
following tips to prevent MRSA infections:
● Wash your hands regularly with soap and water
or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to keep your hands clean. Also,
practice other good hygiene, such as showering immediately after
exercising.
● Use bandages to cover cuts or other open
sores.
● Don't share towels, razors, or other personal
items that come into contact with bare skin.
● When in the gym, use a towel to cover
equipment that shared, such as weight-training benches.
● At work, school or home, regularly clean
surfaces that are either frequently touched or that come into direct
contact with people's skin.
The College of American Pathologists is a medical
society serving more than 16,000 physician members and the laboratory
community throughout the world. It is the world's largest association
composed exclusively of pathologists and is widely considered the leader
in laboratory quality assurance. The College is an advocate for
high-quality and cost-effective medical care.
Source: College of American Pathologists
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