"Superbug" in So. Cal.

There are reports of a drug-resistant "Superbug" spreading in the southern region of the state of California.

MRSA in the Meat Aisle?

Meat is typically not scanned for the MRSA superbug, but it seems that practice should be implemented now, seeing as how a MRSA-type bug has been discovered in meat and livestock.

How to Recognize MRSA Symptoms

By Chris Cornell

MRSA or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium which can cause infection in your body. MRSA is a rare staph infection. In fact, approximately 20-30% of healthy people are staph carriers. This bacterium is resistant to many antibiotics including penicillin. MRSA symptoms if not dealt with properly can be deadly in extreme cases. Many people mistake it for a spider bite of skin infection and tend to ignore it. So how can you recognize MRSA symptoms? Here are a few guidelines.

1. Skin Infection - look out for any skin infection which appears like a spider bite. Your skin might be irritated, itchy, red, swollen, filled with pus and very painful. This kind of infection can spread easily by skin to skin contact or by touching something that was recently touched by someone else.

2. Look out for any skin infection which might be spreading very fast. This is a good indicator of MRSA symptoms.

3. Lung Infection - Look out of lung infection symptoms which include flu like symptoms such as coughing, fever, chills, shortness of breath and pain in the extremities. Also, be on a lookout for Pneumonia as this bacterium can cause Pneumonia as well.

4. Urinary Tract Infection - Look out for symptoms of a urinary tract infection. MRSA can cause a urinary tract infection if it enters that area.

5. MRSA In The Bloodstream - Look out for symptoms of MRSA in your bloodstream. You may generally feel very lethargic or experience pain all over your body.

If you have any of these symptoms, consult a doctor immediately without delay. If you are being treated for MRSA symptoms and you do not get better or you get worse within three or four days, it is highly recommended that you see your doctor again.

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MRSA in Pets?

Ran across a forum where a gal was talking about a possible case of MRSA in her German Shepherd. I found it pretty interesting, so I'm mentioning it here.

A Cure for MRSA

MRSA continues to plague hospitals, schools and communities by killing thousands of people each year. The number of hospital admissions for MRSA has significantly increased over the past decade (1000% increase since 1995). It is estimated that 53 million people carrying MRSA. This resilient bacterium is resistant to common antibiotics such as methicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin and oxacillin. It is also expected that MRSA will quickly become resistant to new antibiotics as well. Historically, MRSA has been most common among people with weak immune systems living in hospitals, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. However, it has become a problem in healthy people, increasing the number of reported cases of community-acquired MRSA.

It has been reported that MRSA, which is now reaching beyond the walls of hospitals and nursing homes into the general community, claims more lives than AIDS in some countries. That's why products such as Honeymark's First Aid Antiseptic Lotion are being viewed as a valuable alternative to antibiotics. In addition to eradicate MRSA, Honeymark's First Aid Antiseptic Lotion also helps wounds heal faster. When treating wounds or skin ulcers, the effectiveness of Active Manuka Honey in eliminating MRSA and healing Staph infections is a positive finding that has encouraging implications for wound management and infection control.

In addition to the increase in MRSA, the need for more advanced wound care solutions is being driven by an aging population as well as the rise in diabetes and chronic vascular disorders. It is also expected that more mutated, antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria will begin to emerge in the future. Recent market research suggests an increase in the need for Manuka honey-based dressings because of their effectiveness in healing wounds as well as bacteria's inability to develop a resistance to Manuka Honey.

Even though most doctors usually prefer pharmaceuticals over natural alternatives, MRSA's ability to defeat antibiotics has left the medical industry with no choice other than to take Manuka Honey products seriously. At a time when consumers are becoming more educated on the negative health effects of synthetic pharmaceutical ingredients and gaining interest in all-natural products, Honeymark is capitalizing on the astounding health benefits of Manuka Honey. To date, there has been no reports of any negative side effects to using Manuka Honey for medical purposes.

"Manuka Honey attacks bacteria in a different manner in which antibiotics do," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International. "Manuka Honey's osmotic action has to draw moisture out of the bacteria, making it impossible for them to survive. This is why MRSA and other hard-to-kill bacteria will never be able to develop a resistance to it."

For more information or to purchase Honeymark's Fist Aid Antiseptic Lotion, call 1-866-427-7329 or visit Honeymark Products.

By Frank Buonanotte
Published: 6/21/2008

MRSA Story from Long Ago

Here's an interesting account of a man from New York, now in his mid-30's who went through the issues of MRSA, Staph, Superbug infection way back in 1986!

I can't imagine having to go through all of the tests and diagnosis and pain so long ago when medicine was not as technologically advanced as it is today.

Artificial Turf's link to MRSA and Staph Infections

One major disadvantage of playing on artificial turf is that the cuts, abrasions and burns are more severe than the same injuries sustained playing on natural grass. Reason being, the friction caused between turf and the human skin. This becomes an issue in many sports, especially Soccer, where sliding maneuvers are common and the players do not wear much in the way of protective clothing. This is how the term "turf toe" originated.

The abrasions caused by the artificial turf have been known to cause a higher incidence of Staph and MSRA infections.