Comments on: Is MRSA the new HIV? Open Forum

By: Dr Kadiyali M Srivatsa

Dr Kadiyali M Srivatsa — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:32:39 +0000

Fabric softeners, disinfectants, shampoos and other household products are spreading drug-resistant bacteria creating a bacterial timebomb in our drains and rivers. Detergents used in factories and mills are also increasing the odds that some medicines will no longer be able to combat dangerous diseases.

The warning has been made by Birmingham and Warwick university scientists, who say disinfectants and other products washed into sewers and rivers are triggering the growth of drug-resistant microbes. Soil samples from many areas have been found to contain high levels of bacteria with antibiotic-resistant genes, the scientists have discovered – raising fears that these may have already been picked up by humans.

The study suggests that the problem of drug resistance is not merely the result of the over-prescription of antibiotics or poor hygiene standards in hospitals. However, the team stressed the emergence of the most deadly superbugs – such as MRSA that has caused thousands of deaths in hospitals – is not linked to the use of disinfectants.

Drug resistance is not confined to hospitals, but is out in the community. It is spreading and all the time it is eroding our ability to control infections. It is extremely worrying,”

By: Mary

Mary — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:55:31 +0000

Very cool. I live in an urban setting that has reported MRSA and my germaphobe ways feel much better now. Thanks.

By: Evan

Evan — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:41:59 +0000

'Magic bullet' kills MRSA. Just as simple as that...

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 01:30:10 +0000

Jose,

Don’t you know that many straight men and women are having anal intercourse? Not all – not most – but many.

Also, if you’re in sexual contact with them (or wrestling – say on a high school or college team) and in close skin to skin contact with someone – you can get MRSA.

It may be that those who have contracted staph that belong to other demographics are hard to define – (father – who is hispanic, mother – who is white, son from another marriage who is black, daughter from this marriage who goes to preschool and they all get MRSA?) Hard to put those people into one group except that they all live in the same household and use the same toilet, bathtub, sink, dishes, towels, etc…

Focusing on one group (that can be identified) is not the issue when it is so easily transmitted via skin contact and people who get it can get it from VARIOUS places and go by different groups.

By: Medifix

Medifix — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:53:55 +0000

Hi, it looks as if there is still some confusion.

(1) MRSA is a BACTERIA and Not a VIRUS (people will associate this to flu virus and will think it will go away and won’t seek help)

(2) You don’t need to have sex to catch MRSA.

(3) Getting massage is a parlor can give you MRSA, especially in places you may be embarrassed to talk about.

(4) Bacteria breath oxygen, eat sugar and protein, multiply like our body cells.