Maryn McKenna who provided valuable references to historical pandemic flu (1918-1919), is currently working on a book about Methicillin-resistant staph infections, MRSA.
She’s using a web log for her research. This allows us to track some of the latest research findings through her, but also allows interaction with readers as she is developing the book.
This blog is the virtual whiteboard for my new book, SUPERBUG: The Rise of Drug-Resistant Staph and the Danger of a World Without Antibiotics, coming in 2009 from Free Press. Whether you’re a MRSA researcher or a MRSA victim — or simply a major disease geek — I’m interested in your leads, thoughts, comments and stories. Watch this space for drafts and details as SUPERBUG moves forward.
I’m a freelance writer and author specializing in public health, medicine and health policy. I write features for national magazines and news stories for an infectious-disease website. In addition to this new book about the rise of drug-resistant staph around the world, I’m working on a multi-year research project on emergency room overcrowding and stress. … I’m interested in hearing from researchers, victims and disease geeks; all tips, thoughts, leads and personal stories are welcome. For more about me, check my website in the blogroll, along with other important sites about public health and disease. Let’s get started.
MRSA is now part of our tundra environment, along with various respiratory diseases (RSV, pneumonias) and skin infections (impetigo). This makes us part of the larger world– which we have been, of course, although some readers of the Anchorage Daily News seem blinded to the concept (Respiratory infections in Bush raise alarm : comments). MRSA is an example of evolution, an inadvertent selection by the medical system against the more benign or easier to kill (therefore less dangerous) microbes by killing them off with antibiotics. This allows the resistant microbes to take over. It also allows the resistant microbes to live outside the healthcare system in the community.
See previous posts,
- 3 things everyone should know to prevent pandemic flu, MRSA, RSV, pink-eye
- clean-hands-week-how-will-you-celebrate/ (and references)
- surviving-the-new-killer-bug-mrsa/
- give-germs-the-boot-not-your-baby
It would be interesting to apply some of the understanding about MRSA to that of the higher rate of infectious diseases related to sanitation in our region. Inadequate clean water supplies are part, but not all, of the problem suggested by the recently published study. The region focussed on in the research is also served by just one health corporation which in the past, at least, has used antibiotics freely.
- Increased Health Risk Associated with Lack of In-home Running Water
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/2008/r080401.htm - CDC STUDY: Villages that have to haul water have higher illness rates 2008
http://www.adn.com/life/health/story/363026.html - Alaska study links bad plumbing, disease. Published: Feb. 28, 2006 http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Business/2006/02/27/alaska_study_links_bad_plumbing_disease/7842/
Also,
- Staph. aureus and MRSA in Alaska
- http://tundramedicinedreams.blogspot.com/2006/11/steambath-boil.html
- http://tundramedicinedreams.blogspot.com/2006/09/boils-101-workshop-for-health-aides.html
It’s not just steambaths and high school wrestling mats. As a couple of people have found in Bethel, even bumping a knee can be dangerous.
Medical photos from DermNet of Cellulitis
Furuncles Carbuncles (boils)
Staphylococcal Folliculitis (boils)
Site Search Tags: MRSA, staph, Maryn+McKenna, evolution, antibiotic, resistance, superbug, handwashing, hygiene, hospital, antimicrobial, disinfect, epidemiology, environment, rural+health, Bethel, CDC, lung, ADN.com, steam+bath, Yukon+Kuskokwim, staph, septicemia, blood+poisoning, boils
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Hi I have had mrsa in the past (4 different rounds of antibiotics no help). So I finally tried liquid bleach. Yes just a drop or two on the initial location, feeling of another infection starting. I tried almost any salve or antibiotic on market. Chlorine or liquid bleach is toxic in quantity especially if unvented area but a drop stops MRSA in its tracks. I even soaked in a tub if 15 to 30 gallons of water and one tablespoon of bleach for 15 minutes and of course rinse off. I also use a brush and clean my nails constantly with dilute solution of chloine and water 1 part chlorine to 20 parts water to break cycle of transmission. How can I get the word out this works?
I was diagnosed with MRSA in April of this year. It began as a small bump (looked just like a pimple) on my right forearm which then grew until it looked like a spider bite (swollen, painful and HOT!). It began to drain on its own, but I got myself to the doctor as soon as I realized that this was no normal bug bite. My wonderful doctor drained the spot, took a culture and prescribed me to a two week course of Bactrim. There is now only a slight discoloration where the bump used to be.
About two months later, I noticed a small “pimple” on my hip/bikini area. I immediately refilled my prescription of Bactrim and the bump cleared up on its own without becoming any larger or more painful. I’m thankful to have caught that one in time, because there is little doubt in my mind that it was also a MRSA bump.
I am now recovering after having minor surgery to drain a large abcess on my left buttock. Obviously, this is not an area that I inspect on a daily basis so I did not notice anything out of the ordinary until Labor Day weekend when it became painful to sit down. I visited my primary care physician again but unfortunately the abcess was too big at that point for him to do anything but prescribe me to more Bactrim. I was referred to a surgical specialist who drained the wound, which was deep enough to require one week of home care nursing to have the wound packed and dressed daily. I was out of work for 4 days due to having to be homebound so the nursing care would be covered by my insurance. I no longer have to pack the wound, but it will still take another 2-3 weeks to fully heal. It’s been difficult to use the bathroom and bathe properly.
I think the biggest frustration I have is that I will never know how I contracted MRSA. It’s becoming so widespread now that it is not only the elderly or immuno-comprised people who contract this terrible infection. I am a 22 year old female who has never been in prison, hasn’t been in the hospital since 4th grade, does not shower in locker rooms and doesn’t share towels or razors with anyone. I shower every day and wash my hands frequently. I do work at the Front Desk of a hotel, which is really the only possibility in my mind of how I would have become infected. Unfortunately, I will never know. Hopefully this information will be helpful!
It sounds like you knew you had no ordinary bite or infection, a key point. Over-treating, especially with antibiotics, contributes to the evolution of new infections. But as you note, when the usual steps don’t work, seek medical advice.
In our region, people have even had to be medevaced (sp?) with virulent cases, but otherwise get lanced and packed.
I had read, but hadn’t realized before your account, just how ubiquitous the organism is now, and just how lengthy the treatment is. I’m sure the ringworm folks empathize. Thank you for the info.