Superbug MRSA infection among children up 11 fold in a decade
The researchers called for a national review of risk factors. They said that in order to stop this increase from continuing, urgent action needs to be taken immediately.
You can read about this report in the Archives of Disease in Childhood. MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infection could make antibiotics which treat many childhood conditions useless. MRSA is also a very serious illness in itself.
Generally, MRSA infection rates have been going up in all ages. This recent study looked only at kids under the age of 15. In 1991 there were four MRSA cases in kids, in 2001 the number rose to 77. 53% of them were under one year of age.
During the 1980s MRSA began to become a threat. It is now a serious problem in the UK.
In vulnerable patients MRSA can be deadly. When patients are infected with MRSA they develop a condition called bacteriaemia, resulting in a long stay in hospital.
Good hygiene in hospitals helps halt the spread of MRSA. People who work in hospitals should make sure their hands are spotlessly clean at all times.
MRSA expert Dr Georgia Duckworth said 'Children who succumb to MRSA infections are usually very sick already and therefore vulnerable to infection and it is often difficult to tell where the infection was acquired. The levels of MRSA infection in children are still very low relative to older age groups, but we must take steps to ensure that MRSA infection in children does not increase to the same levels as adults.'
Apparently, premature babies are more likely to get infected with MRSA because they tend to stay in hospital longer, they require antibiotics and have intravenous nutrition and treatment.
---- WHAT IS MRSA ¡V SOME FACTS ----
METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS
WHAT IS METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (MRSA)?
Citation: N S W Public Health Bull 2003; 14(6): 123
Staphylococcus aureus (or staph) are bacteria that are found on the skin and in the nose of people. Staph are usually harmless, but they can sometimes cause infection and serious illness.
Some strains of staph have become resistant to the antibiotic methicillin and to other antibiotics that were used in the past to treat infections. Infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are hard to treat, as most antibiotics will not kill the bacteria.
HOW DO YOU GET MRSA INFECTIONS?
You can get infected with MRSA in the community as well as in a hospital or other health care setting.
MRSA and other staph can cause infection by getting into the body through broken skin or into the blood stream. People who have health problems such as diabetes or a poor immune system¡Xor who have broken skin due to wounds, recent surgery, or dermatitis¡Xare more likely than others to get a staph infection.
MRSA can cause:
„X skin infections such as boils and impetigo (school sores);
„X infection under the skin (cellulitis);
„X more serious infections of the bone, blood, lungs and other parts of the body.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE AN MRSA INFECTION?
A doctor will take swabs or samples from boils, wounds, or other sites of infection. These samples will then be sent to a laboratory for testing.
HOW ARE MRSA INFECTIONS TREATED?
MRSA may be treated with special antibiotics. Other treatments include dressings, and surgery, depending on the type of infection. Your doctor will advise on the best treatment for your infection.
HOW ARE MRSA SPREAD?
MRSA can be spread by:
-- touching or squeezing the infected body area, such as a boil or wound;
-- using soiled towels, clothes or bed sheets that have been used by a person with an MRSA infection;
-- using grooming items that have been used by a person with an MRSA infection; -- not washing hands carefully.
HOW CAN YOU PREVENT THE SPREAD OF MRSA?
Wash your hands
Hand washing is the most important thing to do to prevent the spread of MRSA. Wash your hands:
-- before and after touching or dressing an infected area;
-- after going to the toilet;
-- after blowing your nose;
-- before handling or eating food;
-- before handling newborn babies;
-- after touching or handling unwashed clothing or linen.
How should I wash my hands?
Wash all parts of your hands well using soap and running water. Rinse well and dry your hands after washing.
Cover boils or other skin infections
Cover boils or other skin infections with a watertight dressing during the daytime. A child with impetigo (small blisters or flat, honey-coloured crusty sores on the skin, caused by either Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria) should not go to school or childcare until after one full day of treatment.
Don¡¦t share:
-- soiled towels, clothes or bed sheets. If you share a bed with someone, keep sores or wounds dressed overnight;
-- grooming items such as nail scissors, tweezers, razors and toothbrushes.
Wash towels, clothes, bed sheets and other items that might have pus or MRSA on them in a washing machine. No special washing temperature is recommended. Dry clothing and linen in direct sunlight, if possible, as sunlight kills bacteria. All eating utensils and dishes can be washed as normal.
This fact sheet was taken from New South Wales Health ¡V Australia
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/phb/HTML2003/june03html/factsheetp123.html
For further information please contact your local public health unit, community health centre, or doctor.
Please note: There are more specific measures for the prevention and control of MRSA in health care settings. For information about the prevention and control of MRSA in health care settings, please see the NSW Health Infection Control Policy (2002/45), which is down-loadable from NSW HealthWeb at
www.health.nsw.gov.au/fcsd/rmc/cib/circulars/2002/cir2002¡V45.pdf or by contacting the NSW Infection Control Resource Centre on (02) 9332 9712.
Superbug SAMR infecþiei în rândul copiilor de pânã la 11 ori de un deceniu - Superbug MRSA infection among children up 11 fold in a decade - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate