Flip-flops are a magnet for dangerous, deadly bacteria

This is an interesting study done by some microbiologists in NYC on the dangers of flip-flops.  Yes, we know they are comfortable, but as the article says “There is just more bacteria in the city.  There’s garbage and rat doo….”

So, add cleaning your flip-flops to your list of things to clean.  Once they are clean, then treat them with something that will resist bacteria.

Flip-flops are a magnet for dangerous, deadly bacteria

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200,000 per Year?!

A new report called “Dead by Mistake” was released on August 10th stating that medical mistakes can occur from illegible handwriting, sleep deprivation of the doctor, poor documentation and communication, improper nurse-to-patient ratios, wrong-side surgeries, misdiagnosis, and hospital infections, among other causes.

Of the 200,000 almost 99,000 (according to the CDC) die from hospital acquired infections.

Did you get that?

“Hospital acquired infections” –  Doesn’t that sound preventable to you?

We must start looking for better ways to treat touch points and other common areas in hospitals where these preventable infections lurk.  Something is only sanitized until someone touches it.  So a protective shield must be applied to touchpoints, wheel chairs, tables, countertops, etc., to stop the spread of diseases that come into contact with those items.

Regular cleaning and sanitizing are not doing it – we have to be open to finding new solutions using innovative technologies.

Read more: Medical Mistakes Blamed for 200K Deaths A Year

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MRSA – The Most-Feared Opponent

Great article from another blog on staph control and the instances of MRSA in athletic facilities.

STAPH CONTROL – MRSA. The Most-Feared Opponent

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Is it a spider bite or a staph infection? | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal

Is it a spider bite or a staph infection? | courier-journal.com | The Courier-Journal

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Protecting yourself from locker room infections – KIVITV.COM | Boise. News, Breaking News, Weather and Sports-

Protecting yourself from locker room infections – KIVITV.COM | Boise. News, Breaking News, Weather and Sports-

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What is this MRSA thing?

MRSA is Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.  Common antibiotics such as penicillin, amoxicillin, and methicillin don’t kill it – hence the “cillin resistant” part of the name.  Antibiotics in general are less effective now than they were just 10 years ago, so when one finds something that is completely resistant to normal antibiotic treatments – that’s pretty scary.  MRSA may spread to the internal organs or systems, cause pneumonia or even death.  However, “almost all MRSA skin infections can be effectively treated in the outpatient setting by drainage of the pus by a healthcare provider with or without antibiotics”, cites the CDC.

So, then, the next thing is how does one know? Is there a early sign of Staph or MRSA? Well, fortunately, there is. Many people complain of a painful “spider” bite or pimple.

The CDC has some, umm, interesting pictures

of MRSA for reference. If you have a questionable skin condition that worsens, or is accompanied by a fever, seek medical attention.

Appropriate Sanitation and Cleaning Works Against Swine Flu & MRSA

Now, here is an interesting article about how many of the regimes adopted for MRSA can also apply to Swine Flu treatment.  A small excerpt:

Here are the top ten ways you can protect yourself:
1. Wash your hands! Wash or sanitize before eating, after restroom use and often in between.
2. Keep your hands off of your face (especially eyes, nose and mouth).
3. Cover your cough (ideally cough into your sleeve at the crook of your elbow).
4. Dispose of tissues properly and then wash your hands.

Hey, there’s that wash your hands thing again.  Not once, but twice in the first 4 bullet points.  Does it seem that washing one’s hands is important?  Hmmm.

Trenton, MO Newspaper Article

MRSA is a Super Germ

This is from Dr. Donohue, a syndicated columnist discussing health care, prevention, and treatment.

Dear Dr. Donohue — My husband recently passed away. He was diagnosed as having MRSA. I have never heard of this disease, and cannot find it in my medical dictionary. Would you please explain what it is? How is it contracted?

MRSA, pronounced “mersa,” stands for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus (STAFF-uh-low-KOK-us) aureus. Let’s shorten “staphylococcus” to “staph” (staff). It’s a bacterium, a germ. You can’t escape coming into contact with it. It’s everywhere. Many people harbor it in the lower part of their noses and don’t get sick from it. They can, however, transfer it to their fingers and hands and pass it on to others. Frequently, from other sources, staph lands on our skin and we don’t get sick. However, staph is the cause of boils and of many other skin infections. If it penetrates through the skin, it can infect deep organs like the heart. When it gets into the blood, it can be deadly. Precautions consist in frequent but not obsessive hand-washing, regular changing of washcloths and towels, and cleansing of all cuts and scratches.

In the early days of antibiotics — the 1940s and ’50s — penicillin killed staph with ease. However, it’s a wily germ and learned how to outsmart penicillin. Scientists created a new penicillin, methicillin. Staph then developed ways of escaping the action of methicillin. It became MRSA, methicillin-resistant staph. We still have antibiotics that work against it, but they can’t always get the job done. Blood and organ infections with the germ are often life-threatening. The alternative antibiotics used for treatment of MRSA depend, in part, on a person’s healthy immune system to contribute to the conquest of this formidable foe. At older ages, the immune system isn’t as strong as it once was. I am truly sorry for your and your family’s loss. The battle with MRSA is also a battle against the indiscriminate use of antibiotics. Bacteria become resistant to them when they’re prescribed for conditions that don’t warrant their use, like colds.

Starting to notice how many people are talking about the over use of antibiotics?  And washing one’s hands?

Cut back on antibiotics to save human lives?

Here’s a scary quote:

“We may have strains of staph arising now where there is essentially no antibiotic left that can treat them. We may be moving into what has been called the ‘post-antibiotic era.’ What that will do is, in many ways, move medicine back 50 years.”

Here’s the full article.

SaveAntibiotics.org

Those Irritating Fruit Flies

Looking for a Better Way to Eliminate Fruit Flies?

I know of a new product that is very effective and it is also a completely green product.

It is called the Aromatic Drain Device and was originally developed to control odors associated with drains in commercial institutions. As an added bonus, it is proven to be very effective in eliminating fruit flies.

This was originally developed by a restaurant owner who wanted to eliminate drain odors from the restaurants drains in both the kitchen and restrooms. As you know these odors are unpleasant and have been treated, historically, with costly maintenance progams or bleach. No one wants to pour expensive or caustic chemicals down their drains, so this system was developed to provide a constant source of bacterial enzymes that attack the odor at the source.

Aromatic Drain Device System

The Aromatic Drain Device system consists of a patented basket and a refill puck. The basket attaches to your existing drain pipe cover with a simple bolt and wing nut. With the perforated plastic basket suspended in the drain, both air and water are allowed to circulate around the Aromatic Drain Device, releasing the fragrant room deodorizer and activating the powerful enzymatic action. Its discreet location inside the drain keeps it hidden from your guests. Its design allows the deodorizer formulation to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week for 30 days!

Let the Green Power of enzymes do the work for you!

The Refill

The refill is a custom formulation that combines powerful enzymes capable of degrading residual organic matter in drains and pipes with a strong deodorizer for immediate control of the problem. These enzymes are proven to promote clear and odor free drain lines, combined with a strong, natural fragrance that immediately masks odors. These odors will be eliminated over time with regular use of the Aromatic Drain Device. As the product dissolves, live enzymes are released into the drains. They will adhere to the walls of the drains and begin breaking down the organics, which are the source of bad odors and the cause of slow drains. By adding a fresh Refill each month, the drains and pipes will be cleaned of grease and organics, thereby emitting fewer and fewer odors over time. The convenient, once a month refill eliminates the need for the manual addition of messy liquids on a weekly or even daily basis, which saves both time and MONEY!

Safe For The Environment

There are no chemicals, so the Aromatic Drain Device is non-corrosive and will not damage any pipe or drain.  Non-caustic is the way to go anymore.  Water and Sewer systems are discouraging caustic cleaners, so this product fits right in.

The Refills are completely safe for the environment and are exempt from the TSCA toxic substances list, as defined in the Toxic Substance Control Act.

It Eliminates Fruit Flies!

Did I mention that it also eliminates fruit flies? Well, it does, in addition to reducing and eliminating odors and balky drains.

Fruit flies breed and thrive in drains, but when you use the Aromatic Drain Device System, the fruit flies will be eliminated. By refilling it every 30 days, the fruit flies will not come back either.

My company sells this product, full disclosure, so if you want to know more please contact me here.