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Death by Diarrhea - New Mutant Bacteria Invades Hospitals

by Mark_Thevenot

Sound like a sci-fi scenario? - Unfortunately it is too real. A
new and very virulent mutant pathogen has infected patients in
hospitals in at least 38 states. Because cases of the infection
by these bacteria are not reported in many states, the incidence
of infection is likely increasing at a much more rapid rate than
has been recognized. Alerts have been sent out by the CDC and
other offices responsible for communicable disease control in the
U.S. This new epidemic strain of anti-biotic resistant bacteria
is now suddenly ranked with MRSA or methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureas (aka Staph) as the top 2 potentially deadly
infections that can be contracted during a hospital visit.

What is this new bacteria? It is actually a common bacteria (a
bug) that has caused treatable diarrhea in older patients at
nursing homes and in hospitals for years. Clostridium difficile
or C.diff. is transmitted through contact with fecal matter,
usually from hand or food to mouth. C.diff related diarrhea
occurs most commonly as a result of anti-biotic use. When certain
anti-biotics are used they kill some of the good bacteria in your
body that usually keeps bad bacteria like C.diff from
flourishing. (C.diff is resistant to most anti-biotics)
Ironically, when you are attacked by C.diff because of the
anti-biotics you are taking - you must take a specific
anti-biotic to kill the flourishing C.diff. Here-in lies the new
problem. A mutant strain of C.diff called NAP1/027 resists all
anti-biotics and this bacteria is more toxic. C.diff produces
spores when it senses that it is under attack from anti-biotics
and these spores are not easily killed by the usual sanitization
products used to clean hospital environments. These C.diff spores
can remain on hospital surfaces for months and can contaminate
food and anything touched by hospital personnel or patients.
Contracting C.diff, especially the NAP1 strain can lead to
uncontrolled bouts of diarrhea, up to 50 per day, and can lead to
more serious, imagine something more serious, like C.difficile
associated disease (CDAD) and chronic colon problems.

What can I do about it? Not a lot. But here are a few things
which may help you avoid infection:

1) Avoid over-use of anti-biotics. Ask you doctor if
anti-biotics, especially any anti-biotic that has been associated
with CDAD, is really needed for treatment. Anti-biotic over-use
is a major reason that these resistant bacteria are mutating.

2) Wash your hands thoroughly before you put anything in your
mouth, especially after visiting a hospital or nursing home.

3) Wear surgical gloves if you are caring for patients with CDAD
or diarrhea.

4) Do not let severe cases of diarrhea go untreated by a doctor.
Unfortunately, common diarrhea medicines can make c.diff
infection worse by stopping the bacteria flushing effect of
diarrhea. C.diff infections call for more than over-the-counter
medicines.

5) If you suspect a problem, call your doctor, especially if you
develop diarrhea after tending to a patient or visiting a
hospital setting.

Mark Thevenot(aka Steve Thevenot)authors family-friendly health
articles. Visitors to his website, <a
href="http://www.superrxcard.com"
title="http://www.superrxcard.com"
target="_blank">http://www.superrxcard.com</a>, can print a free
prescription drug discount card that is accepted at over 60,000
pharmacies.

Syndicated by Top Gazebos - www.topgazebos.net

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