Preventing Swine Flu
Turn on the news today and you can be sure one of the hot topics being covered is the status of the Influenza A – H1N1 strain, commonly referred to as “swine flu”. Ever since the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the pandemic alert level of the swine flu from phase 4 to 5 on April 29, 2009, people have become increasingly cautious. Naturally, prevention comes to mind and the most popular question recently is how?
Swine flu is a respiratory disease that originates from pigs as the name would suggest. Although the swine flu originated from pigs, a common misconception is that people can receive the swine flu from eating pork. Pork that is cooked well pose no risk of transmitting the virus. Cooking the meat well kills all bacteria and virus.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mentions the most common method of transmission of H1N1 from human to human is through coughing or sneezing from infected individuals. Similar to the seasonal flu, swine flu will cause similar symptoms of the standard flu such as coughing, fever, body aches, and fatigue. To be safe, it is recommended to stay away from individuals who show signs of being sick. WHO recommends staying away from public areas crowding with people; however, for most individuals this is nearly impossible to do. This is where practicing good hand hygiene becomes necessary.
As with all influenza viruses, the CDC notes that washing hands regularly will be beneficial in the prevention of contracting the illness. Invisible to the naked eye, swine flu can reside in droplets of bodily fluids that can fall on doorknobs, tables, or other public areas. If you were to touch such surfaces and then touch your nose or mouth, your risk of receiving the swine flu is very high. Washing the hands or using alcohol-based sanitizers will ensure your hands remain clean just in case you involuntarily touch your nose.
As we enter the summer months, experts note that the voracity of the swine flu will die down. The biggest fear is what will happen when we enter the autumn season. Historically, outbreaks of influenza saw the virus die down during summer to only pick up during autumn and winter when the virus can spread easier. The biggest fear from experts is that the swine flu can pick up elements of the seasonal flu and develop properties of resistance.
Research is currently underway to successfully combat this virus which includes the development of vaccines. Full development of the H1N1 influenza strain vaccine is closer, but is still racing against the clock since full-scale production of the vaccine will also take time to make.
Time will tell how serious the 2009 swine flu is. Perhaps the virus will just go away or perhaps it will cause an outbreak. In any case, the best thing we can do in the meantime is be smart about preventing the spread. At this time, washing your hands regularly is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of influenza. Let’s wash our hands properly and do our part in creating a healthier environment.
References
-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov.
-World Health Organization. www.who.gov.
What is MRSA? Why Care?
The Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria are known to be responsible for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus infections commonly referred to as MRSA. MRSA infections can affect different skin parts of the body and is considered to be serious because of its resistant nature to numerous antibodies including penicillin. For this reason, MRSA has been dubbed as the super germ.
The primary cause of the super germ is due to the overuse of antibiotics. Since the discovery of penicillin, antibiotics continue to be effective in treating bacteria related infections. However, the continued use of antibiotics has caused certain bacteria to develop resistance to antibiotic drugs like MRSA. This problem is compounded by the fact that doctors have been overprescribing antibiotics to patients.
Since antibiotics have been viewed as a “cure-all” drug, numerous physicians have been prescribing patients with sore throats, common cold, or flu symptoms with antibiotics. In some cases, antibiotics are not needed at all. In fact, patients also contribute to the rise of MRSA.
In addition to demanding drugs to cure any illness, many patients who receive antibiotics do not follow instructions given by the doctor and pharmacist. Patients frequently stop taking antibiotics once they feel better even though they are told to continue treatment for a prescribed period. Others simply forget to take the drug at the correct time. These examples of carelessness provide ample conditions for the remaining bacteria in the body to develop resistance to the drug used.
Fortunately, there are treatments available to cure patients with MRSA; however, the treatment options are limited. The fear of MRSA or any super germ is that we will eventually exhaust all treatment options available. The more drugs we use, the less the drug becomes effective. Although MRSA is known to critically affect the elderly, children, and individuals with weak immune systems, cases of healthy individuals becoming victims are rising. Today, MRSA is responsible for thousands of deaths every month in the U.S. and we can help minimize the spread of these bacteria.
The CDC promotes hand hygiene through handwashing as a means of reducing MRSA infections. MRSA can be spread through skin-to-skin contact, cuts on the skin, and even sharing personal items like towels. Good hygiene such as frequent handwashing with soap and water is one of the best ways to prevent getting MRSA and spreading it. Although MRSA is quite serious, we can do our part to prevent the spread of MRSA.
Remember, clean hands save lives!
References
-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections-Michigan. MMWR. 1981;30:185-7.
-Buckingham S, McDougal L, Cathey L;et al. Emergence of Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus at a Memphis, Tennessee Children's Hospital. Pediatrics Infection Disease Journal. 23(7):619-624, 2004.
Reducing Infections Through Hand Hygiene
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1.7 million patients in American hospitals develop healthcare-associated infections each year, leading to about 99,000 deaths annually. Clinical studies have shown that healthcare-associated infection rates were lower after antiseptic handwashing.
Did you know that each clinician can help reduce the number of healthcare-associated infections by following hand hygiene guidelines? That is our mission: to eliminate healthcare-associated infections through education of proper hand hygiene.
Hand Hygiene Resources
Recommended Skin Care
Latest Hand Hygiene Posts
- Practicing Proper Hand Washing At Home
- Medical Exam Gloves Causing Reduced Hand Hygiene Compliance
- Debunking the Not-so Common Knowledge of Hand Hygiene
- Number of Microorganisms on Your Hands
- Costs of Implementing a Hand Hygiene Program