MRSA 'Deadlier Than Bioweapons'

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 10-23-2007

[yorkie]

My doctor was very adamant about cleaning/sterilizing everything anyone in my household would come in contact with, when he diagnosed me with CA MRSA. He said it can be picked up just about anywhere. He prescribed an aggressive antibiotic attack, and in 12 days, it appears almost gone.

It can be spread by skin contact. It appears the bacteria can survive and remain active for several days on inanimate surfaces. She must wash her hands often with soap and very warm water, and tell her not to put her fingers anywhere near her nostrils, as the germ can live right inside the nose.

Pandy, I am so glad the silver worked for your daughter! Sometimes mom’s know what’s best for themselves and their children!

[TomServo]

but it IS treatable.

Agree with that. I think I see what you're saying that the increased prevalence of MSRA combined with the ignorance, is responsible for the deaths. But still - 19,000 is not rare. Now it's possible that it could be rare given patients who recognize its symptoms early and Doctors who both recognize and properly treat it early.

Am I close?

[pandoraou812]

I am saving your method for treating it. Just in case the doctors here don’t know what they are doing as in my older daughters case. Thanks.

[yorkie]

The one thing I miss the most? My bath. (I used to think showers were for guys.) lol

[pandoraou812]

Yorkie, I am so glad you are doing so much better! I’ve warned Sassy about her nose & mouth but she is just 8 yrs old. I am more worried about her dance class when she uses the barre for ballet. I told my husband if it comes into her school thats it for me. I want to home school anyway & he so far is against it. After dealing with the doctors with Marisa I don’t know how I would handle any of my sons or Sassy getting it. The nursing home has alerted me that it is in my dad’s nursing home after the experience with my mom so I am not visiting him now. The boys go so he is ok with that. Prayers that you continue to heal & feel better! Thanks for the advice. love ~Pandy~

[hope]

Collodial silver is a great infection fighter. Olive leaf oil is number one for staph. Also for infection in wounds and for acne which is a form of staph for topical treatment,Live Manuka Honey. All can be given internal and external....This info came to me from a MD in the office of the people who treated my son for middle ear infections over a period of two years with potent anti-biotics. He has had three staph infections ( not MRSA) from surgeries and resulting from over prescribed anti-biotics and IMO is the main cause of this deadly bug. We all need to get educated on building our immune systems.

[dit_xi]

My message, I guess, is not to live in a state of fear and hysteria. Prevention against MRSA is as what has always been for any other infections, good hygiene. Wash your hands, disinfect your home, wipe surfaces clean. If you have carpets steam clean them often. Change the linens often, wash behind the ears, etc...

Early detection is key. If you see a wound, an abrasion, a scratch, a cut that’s getting more erythematous, more red, more swollen, etc...don’t let it fester. Get it looked at and treated early.

If you keep on getting recurrent sores, then you’re likely a carrier and should be treated with Bactroban (mupirocin) intranasally as well, because that’s where the bacterial can reside. If you’re a carrier, then your family members are likely to be carriers as well and should be treated also.

Recently at the hospital where I practice, every admitted patient’s nares/nostrils were swabbed and cultured for MRSA, no matter what they were admitted for. We found out that the prevalence of MRSA in our community was over 9%, a little bit higher than the national average of 7%. Out of those, the majority were assymptomatic carriers of MRSA.

[pandoraou812]

Thank you for the info. I have saved it. Since I have hep C I try to help my immune system. I take liq silver ( I am not gray either lol) milk thistle & royal bee jelly & more. Most of my doctors aren’t happy about this but I took interferon & it was a nightmare. I don’t want to go on that again if possible. So far I am getting my viral level down.

[pandoraou812]

Thank you very much. I plan to save this & hope that the ballet teacher won’t mind if I ask her to wipe the barre down. I really don’t want to sound like a kook but I saw what happened to my mom & oldest daughter. The doctors did not know how to deal with the abscess & weren’t draining them. They were cutting chunks of her leg away. Then they sent her home to deal with it. She was in no condition to be sent home but her insurance ran out.

[hope]

Well, I was amazed that a pediatrician in the practice recommended natural products for my son 14 years ago. I have always taken that route on certain matters. My youngest daughter has only been on anti-biotics twice...She is 14, and that was for suspected strep...Unfortunately the doctors prescribe an anti-biotic before test results.

A great product for viral and bacterial infections is available at many grocers and health food stores...It is Sambucol's Black Elderberry. It is imported from Israel. It is a main staple in my house during flu season among other precautions we take. I do not believe in flu shots!!!

[dit_xi]

Have you seen the price for copper fixtures lately?

Yes, there are many published reports out there espousing copper based alloys as a means of ridding MRSA. The Romans knew about it ages ago when they used copper pipings to improve public hygiene. Well before microbes were discovered as the causes for diseases, the Romans observed that water delivered through copper was safe to drink and that copper utensils and cookware helped to prevent the spread of disease.

Unfortunately copper corrodes easily, though I do like the patina look a whole lot.

[Marie]

I am more worried about her dance class when she uses the barre for ballet.

Several years ago I contracted a simple staff infection on my calf. I didn't use a public shower, share my razor, have physical contact with anyone except my hubby and I still got a staff infection.

I don't think there is really much anyone *can* do beyond basic hygiene. (Sure, you can put a kid in a bubble. You have to decide how far you want to go with the precautions.) IMHO, the best thing we can do is be educated and able to spot a problem early on. Trust your gut. If a kid gets a staff-like sore, take 'em to the doc. If the doc doesn't help, take 'em to another one until you're satisfied with the treatment.

Life is risky business! ;-)

[pandoraou812]

IMHO, the best thing we can do is be educated and able to spot a problem early on. Trust your gut. If a kid gets a staff-like sore, take 'em to the doc. If the doc doesn't help, take 'em to another one until you're satisfied with the treatment. Life is risky business! ;-)

I agree & feel so much better now. It is scary when you've been through this MRSA with a mother dying & my oldest daughter having such problems with it. I am just going to explain things to my 8 yr old daughter & hope she pays attention. Thanks for your advice.~P~

[pandoraou812]

Thanks, saving your info too! I prefer not to use meds whenever possible. ~P~

[49th]

Honestly, one of the best things you can do for a kid is expose them to as much dirt and bacteria as you can. Throw out your anti-biotic lysol sprays and toothbrushes. Let your child’s body build up its own immuno-defenses and their chances for remaining healthy are much higher. Also, make sure they eat well and get some exercise. Of those two, the former is probably more important than anything else for maintaining good health.

[Marie]

I do know how you feel. Last year my aunt went for a Pap and ended up with a horrible infection. She was in the ICU for a month and ended up loosing a portion of her bowel and having a hysterectomy. Two years before that another aunt just simply fell ill, but it was the same thing. An internal infection that nearly cost her her life. My mother's neighbor's 4 year old granddaughter was visiting and ate an undercooked hot dog. She died five days later.

My son has diabetes and both my daughter and my immune systems were compromised by a zinc deficiency. (Did you know that this is very common??) We were sick all the time.

As moms, it's our job to see danger everywhere and to protect our families as best we can. But I think we live in a time of information overload. Years ago nobody knew (or really gave a hoot) what was going on in Africa and China. Now, not only do we know, but we also know that all it takes is one sick person flying into JFK to bring the problem to our own front door.

I deal with my own anxiety by thinking in statistics. What are the odds that one of us will be hurt or killed by a car crash? What are the odds that one of us will get Ebola? I then choose to not think (very hard) about Ebola. I educate myself as best as I can about things like MRSA, then put it on the back burner. (I don't completely discount anything. Heck, both my mom and I have had brown recluse bites... 10 years apart in locations where there had NEVER been recluse spiders recorded as ever living at the time!! My daughter has had [lab confirmed] Lyme disease AND Valley Fever. We have *really* bad luck!! lol!)

Just relax and enjoy our daughter. When your "Mama Radar" starts to go "Ping!Ping!" take her to the doctor. (Please, if you're not fully satisfied with the diagnosis or treatment, get a second opinion! My daughter's life was saved because I simply couldn't trust a doctor's diagnosis. It just didn't feel right.)

And *never* feel bad or guilty for being concerned. It's not just your right, it's your duty to worry. The trick is to find a balance and pick your battles. As hard as we try, we simply cannot protect them from everything.

Is this your only child?

[tacticalogic]

Have you seen the price for copper fixtures lately?

Copper is high right now. What's the average total cost to treat an MRSA infection?

[jusduat]

My daughter is in the hospital now with this. It’s been 4 days. She’s an EMT and got it OTJ.

[pandoraou812]

Sassy’s doctor told me to toss the antibiotic hand washes away. I am lucky as my daughter is a good eater, loves to exercise & basically is in good health except for childhood asthma. Which we are working on. I think her 1st year in school she caught every single thing that was going around that year. So far this year she is doing fine. My grandma used to say you have to eat a pound of dirt before you die & I think my older sons must have.

[Secret Agent Man]

IF you can, from a health store pick up lemon oil, echinacea in liquid form, and oil of oregano, and some activated charcoal. If she has topical (surface) problems combine a couple droppers’ worth of each with an amount of activated charcoal and make it a paste with all three oils and apply directly.