Today we all learned of a 6 year old boy from Milbray, Mass. who died from yet another from of E. coli bacterial infection called H.U.S. or Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. I have a brother who nearly lost one if his arms to flesh eating bacteria. The only thing that saved him and his arm was an Emergency Room doctor who recognized the symptoms as well as my brother not waiting to go to a doctor. The primary vector for E. coli bacteria is under cooked food. In particular meat products that have been ground up mixing surface bacteria into the meat like hamburgers and hot dogs. Food manufacturers make every effort to make our food safe but 100% is not there. Consumers need to cook meat products like hot dogs and hamburgers to at least 155 degrees. Here's a link to the story on the child who died:
http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/04/12053986-mystery-e-coli-infection-claims-6-year-old-mass-boy?lite
MRSA is another bug we need to be on the alert for and to take prevention steps lest we fall victim. A person with a MRSA infection is in the photo in this post. Primay vectors for this are hospitals and gyms but they are not the only haunts of this bug. MRSA is methcylin resistant Stap. Aureus. Hand washing and keeping things we touch clean helps. Disinfecting gym equipment BEFORE YOUR USE IT rather than after use makes more sense that what you see in gyms. Cleaning the equipment after you are done using it makes no sense. Again, handwashing and use of hand sanitizers by you and those who you come into contact with will help keep your exposure to these bugs minimized.
Another area is that gym locker. You should clean it before stashing your clothes in one of these germ filled cubicles. Better yet just don't use the locker and locker room. Wear your gym clothes to the facility and shower at home. A degree in Biology has given THE GUARDIAN a heightened level of awareness for the potent consequences of ignoreing these little bugs. Cleanliness may be next to Godliness and in addition it may save your life.
I look at some of the dirty, sweaty clothing that goes into men's lockers and then the next user puts his clothing into that locker. I ask myself what are these people thinking. It is abou the same as wearing that guys dirty underwear and clothing when you put your things on top of that microbial mess.
ReplyDeleteI am probably too paranoid but contracting a nasty case of body rot from someone else is expensive to get rid of and disgusting at the same time.
Some of these veterans that served in Western Asia are bringing home some kind of contagious diseases. Be a little bit careful around these people, also.
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