Just a note about “Infection Control” to keep you up to date on the latest information.
THE GLOBAL HEALTH THREAT
“Misuse of antibiotics has led to a global health threat: the rise of dangerous—or even fatal—superbugs. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is now attacking both patients in hospitals and also in the community and a deadly new multi-drug resistant bacteria called carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, or CRKP is now in the headlines. Last year, antibiotic resistant infections killed 25,000 people in Europe, the Guardian reports.
Unless steps are taken to address this crisis, the cures doctors have counted on to battle bacteria will soon be useless. CRKP has now been reported in 36 US states—and health officials suspect that it may also be triggering infections in the other 14 states where reporting isn’t required. High rates have been found in long-term care facilities in Los Angeles County, where the superbug was previously believed to be rare, according to a study presented earlier this month. CRKP is even scarier than MRSA because the new superbug is resistant to almost all antibiotics, while a few types of antibiotics still work on MRSA. Who’s at risk for superbugs—and what can you do to protect yourself and family members?...”
The simple solutions to stop the spread of disease are:
1. Simple Hygiene techniques such as:
- Hand-washing
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Cleaning all material surfaces (shoes souls, caregiver bags and other contact surfaces)
- Avoid sharing personal equipment
- Shower after patient visits
- Showering after using gym/public used equipment
- Universal precautions
- Use protective barrier devices (for example gloves, gowns, masks)
- Laundering of visit clothes and article after each contact or visits.
2. Use fewer antibiotics
3. And keep patient compliance with antibiotics as ordered by physician
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