Joined: Mar 2007 Gender: Female Posts: 2 Location: Unity, Maine
MRSA « Thread Started on Mar 21, 2007, 11:56pm »
I am wondering if any one on this board with EB, has ever contracted a MRSA infection ? I am deathly afraid of catching it. Apparently, it never completely goes away. It lays latent in the body until one's defenses are down. I can imagine that there could be worse things that a person with EB could contract, such as small pox. But I'd rather not go there. I have a friend that has an active MRSA infection on her cheek. I've had to explain to her why I can't give her a hug which is kind of a bummer. But my face breaks out and I often have open wounds on my face. Sue C
pezmanchris Global Moderator Peacekeeper member is offline
Fill Me With PEZ!
Joined: Mar 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 16 Location: New York
Re: MRSA « Reply #1 on Mar 25, 2007, 10:35pm »
Hi Sue, I don't have any information to share with you on this subject. I will be letting people know this thread has been started and hopefully someone with some helpful info will pop in. In the mean time, please feel free to join The EB Friends Network and post the question in the Blog over there. Hopefully someone there can help. The link for EB Friends is below, in my signature.
Cristina Administrator Head Butterfly member is offline
Joined: Mar 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 46 Location: California
MRSA Information « Reply #2 on Apr 20, 2007, 10:31am »
The following information is from the Mayo Clinic Website:
MRSA infection
Introduction:
Methicilllin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is caused by staphylococcus aureus bacteria — often called "staph." Decades ago, a strain of staph emerged in hospitals that was resistant to the broad-spectrum antibiotics commonly used to treat it. Dubbed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), it was one of the first germs to outwit all but the most powerful drugs.
Staph bacteria are normally found on the skin or in the nose of about one-third of the population. If you have staph on your skin or in your nose but aren't sick, you are said to be "colonized" but not infected with MRSA. Healthy people can be colonized with MRSA and have no ill effects, however, they can pass the germ to others.
Staph bacteria are generally harmless unless they enter the body through a cut or other wound, and even then they often cause only minor skin problems in healthy people. But in older adults and people who are ill or have weakened immune systems, ordinary staph infections can cause serious illness called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA.
In the 1990s, a type of MRSA began showing up in the wider community. Today, that form of staph, known as community-associated MRSA, or CA-MRSA, is responsible for many serious skin and soft tissue infections and for a serious form of pneumonia. When not treated properly, MRSA infection can be fatal.
Vancomycin is one of the few antibiotics still effective against hospital strains of MRSA infection, although the drug is no longer effective in every case. Several drugs continue to work against CA-MRSA, but CA-MRSA is a rapidly evolving bacterium, and it may be a matter of time before it, too, becomes resistant to most antibiotics.
Signs and Symptoms:
Staph infections, including MRSA, generally start as small red bumps that resemble pimples, boils or spider bites. These can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses that require surgical draining. Sometimes the bacteria remain confined to the skin. But they can also burrow deep into the body, causing potentially life-threatening infections in bones, joints, surgical wounds, the bloodstream, heart valves and lungs.
Causes:
Although the survival tactics of bacteria contribute to antibiotic resistance, humans bear most of the responsibility for the problem. Leading causes of antibiotic resistance include:
Unnecessary antibiotic use in humans.
Like other superbugs, MRSA is the result of decades of excessive and unnecessary antibiotic use. For years, antibiotics have been prescribed for colds, flu and other viral infections that don't respond to these drugs, as well as for simple bacterial infections that normally clear on their own.
Antibiotics in food and water. Prescription drugs aren't the only source of antibiotics. In the United States, antibiotics can be found in beef cattle, pigs and chickens. The same antibiotics then find their way into municipal water systems when the runoff from feedlots contaminates streams and groundwater. Routine feeding of antibiotics to animals is banned in the European Union and many other industrialized countries. Antibiotics given in the proper doses to animals who are sick don't appear to produce resistant bacteria.
Germ mutation. Even when antibiotics are used appropriately, they contribute to the rise of drug-resistant bacteria because they don't destroy every germ they target. Bacteria live on an evolutionary fast track, so germs that survive treatment with one antibiotic soon learn to resist others. And because bacteria mutate much more quickly than new drugs can be produced, some germs end up resistant to just about everything. That's why only a handful of drugs are now effective against most forms of staph.
Risk Factors:
Because hospital and community strains of MRSA generally occur in different settings, the risk factors for the two strains differ.
Risk factors for hospital-acquired (HA) MRSA include:
A current or recent hospitalization. MRSA remains a concern in hospitals, where it can attack those most vulnerable — older adults and people with weakened immune systems, burns, surgical wounds or serious underlying health problems.
Residing in a long-term care facility. MRSA is far more prevalent in these facilities than it is in hospitals. Carriers of MRSA have the ability to spread it, even if they're not sick themselves.
Invasive devices. People who are on dialysis, are catheterized, or have feeding tubes or other invasive devices are at higher risk.
Recent antibiotic use. Treatment with fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin or levofloxacin) or cephalosporin antibiotics can increase the risk of HA-MRSA.
These are the main risk factors for community-acquired (CA) MRSA:
Young age. CA-MRSA can be particularly dangerous in children. Often entering the body through a cut or scrape, MRSA can quickly cause a wide spread infection. Children may be susceptible because their immune systems aren't fully developed or they don't yet have antibodies to common germs. Children and young adults are also much more likely to develop dangerous forms of pneumonia than older people are.
Participating in contact sports. CA-MRSA has crept into both amateur and professional sports teams. The bacteria spread easily through cuts and abrasions and skin-to-skin contact.
Sharing towels or athletic equipment. Although few outbreaks have been reported in public gyms, CA-MRSA has spread among athletes sharing razors, towels, uniforms or equipment.
Having a weakened immune system. People with weakened immune systems, including those living with HIV/AIDS, are more likely to have severe CA-MRSA infections.
Living in crowded or unsanitary conditions. Outbreaks of CA-MRSA have occurred in military training camps and in American and European prisons.
Association with health care workers. People who are in close contact with health care workers are at increased risk of serious staph infections.
When to Seek Medical Advice:
Keep an eye on minor skin problems — pimples, insect bites, cuts and scrapes — especially in children. If wounds become infected, see your doctor. Ask to have any skin infection tested for MRSA before starting antibiotic therapy. Drugs that treat ordinary staph aren't effective against MRSA, and their use could lead to serious illness and more resistant bacteria.
Screening and Diagnosis:
Doctors diagnose MRSA by checking a tissue sample or nasal secretions for signs of drug-resistant bacteria. The sample is sent to a lab where it's placed in a dish of nutrients that encourage bacterial growth (culture). But because it takes about 48 hours for the bacteria to grow, newer tests that can detect staph DNA in a matter of hours are now becoming more widely available.
In the hospital, you may be tested for MRSA if you show signs of infection or if you are transferred into a hospital from another healthcare setting where MRSA is known to be present. You may also be tested if you have had a previous history of MRSA.
Treatment:
Both hospital and community associated strains of MRSA still respond to certain medications. In hospitals and care facilities, doctors generally rely on the antibiotic vancomycin to treat resistant germs. CA-MRSA may be treated with vancomycin or other antibiotics that have proved effective against particular strains. Although vancomycin saves lives, it may grow resistant as well; some hospitals are already seeing outbreaks of vancomycin-resistant MRSA. To help reduce that threat, doctors may drain an abscess caused by MRSA rather than treat the infection with drugs.
Prevention:
Hospitals are fighting back against MRSA infection by using surveillance systems that track bacterial outbreaks and by investing in products such as antibiotic-coated catheters and gloves that release disinfectants.
Still, the best way to prevent the spread of germs is for health care workers to wash their hands frequently, to properly disinfect hospital surfaces and to take other precautions such as wearing a mask when working with people with weakened immune systems.
In the hospital, people who are infected or colonized with MRSA are placed in isolation to prevent the spread of MRSA to other patients and healthcare workers.Visitors and healthcare workers caring for isolated patients may be required to wear protective garments and must follow strict handwashing procedures.
What you can do Here's what you can do to protect yourself, family members or friends from hospital-acquired infections.
Ask all hospital staff to wash their hands before touching you — every time.
Wash your own hands frequently.
Ask to be bathed with disposable cloths treated with a disinfectant rather than with soap and water.
Make sure that intravenous tubes and catheters are inserted and removed under sterile conditions; some hospitals have dramatically reduced MRSA blood infections simply by sterilizing patients' skin before using catheters.
Preventing CA-MRSA Protecting yourself from CA-MRSA — which might be just about anywhere — may seem daunting, but these common-sense precautions can help reduce your risk:
Keep personal items personal. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, sheets, razors, clothing and athletic equipment. MRSA spreads on contaminated objects as well as through direct contact.
Keep wounds covered. Keep cuts and abrasions clean and covered with sterile, dry bandages until they heal. The pus from infected sores often contains MRSA, and keeping wounds covered will help keep the bacteria from spreading.
Sanitize linens. If you have a cut or sore, wash towels and bed linens in hot water with added bleach and dry them in a hot dryer. Wash gym and athletic clothes after each wearing.
Wash your hands. In or out of the hospital, careful hand washing remains your best defense against germs. Scrub hands briskly for at least 15 seconds, then dry them with a disposable towel and use another towel to turn off the faucet. Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer containing at least 62 percent alcohol for times when you don't have access to soap and water.
Get tested. If you have a skin infection that requires treatment, ask your doctor if you should be tested for MRSA. Many doctors prescribe drugs that aren't effective against antibiotic-resistant staph, which delays treatment and creates more resistant germs.
Cristina Administrator Head Butterfly member is offline
Joined: Mar 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 46 Location: California
Active Manuka Honey to Treat and Prevent MRSA « Reply #3 on Apr 20, 2007, 10:59am »
Active Manuka Honey
Active Manuka Honey is 100% raw, natural, organic honey that is gathered in New Zealand from the manuka bush (Leptospermum scoparium), which grows uncultivated throughout the country.
In New Zealand and in the US more and more doctors, hospitals and nursing facilities are now relying on Active Manuka Honey to help treat patient wounds effectively that just won't heal with traditional wound dressings. Benefits of Using Active Manuka Honey:
*No known side effects
*Creates a moist wound environment
*Speeds up healing process
*Less pain when removing bandages
*Cleanses the wounds of dead cells
*Sterilizes
*Anti-inflammatory
*Fights antibiotic resistant bacteria including MRSA
*Can be used long term as opposed to most antibiotics
*Does not interfere with regular medications.
*Reduces odor
*Reduces scarring
*When taken internally it can help heal and protect the digestive tract including the esophagus, stomach lining, and intestines, relieves acid reflux, and can heal stomach ulcers due to it's ability to eliminate h. pylori bacteria, the bacteria known to cause most peptic ulcers.
*Is recently being shown to help oral hygiene by helping prevent cavities, decrease dental plaque and gingivitis.
*Is currently being researched for it's effectiveness for eye infections.
What can Active Manuka Honey be used for?
Externally it can be used for wounds - including skin ulcers, open wounds, chronic wounds, infected wounds, MRSA, bed sores, 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns, scars, scar tissue, acne, minor cuts scratches and abrasions, insect bites/stings and more.
Internally it can be used for esophageal sores/ulcers, acid reflux/heart burn, stomach/peptic/duodenal ulcers, gastritis, upset stomach, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, dental health and h. pylori.
It can also be used for your pets too including wound care, burns, sores, skin ulcers and also internal stomach problems.
Is this honey a new discovery?
No, in fact Dr. Peter Molan, Senior Lecturer of the Biochemistry Department, Waikato University, New Zealand, has been researching Manuka Honey for over 20 years. For more information about the scientific findings for Manuka Honey please visit the Waikato Honey Research Unit.
They continue to do studies on Manuka honey. You can read about the Current Research Interests of the Honey Research Unit. You can also learn about the many People Working in the Honey Research Unit.
What is raw (unpasteurized) honey?
Raw honey is honey that has not been over-heated or over-strained. Excess heating, such as used to produce liquid honey, destroys the natural enzymes that the bees have added, including the substance producing hydrogen peroxide that gives honey part of its antibacterial activity.
What is the difference between Manuka Honey and Active Manuka Honey?
Manuka Honey is less concentrated than Active Manuka Honey. Active Manuka Honey is collected in an area where Manuka bushes are highly concentrated, and therefore produces a more concentrated honey.
What is UMF?
UMF stands for "Unique Manuka Factor", and is the trademark for the special antibacterial property found in Manuka Honey. When honey is diluted, a special enzyme the bees have added produces hydrogen peroxide, a well known antibiotic. Manuka Honey has been found to have an antibacterial activity in addition to hydrogen peroxide. No one has so far discovered the substance involved, so it is called UMF. UMF is not in all Manuka Honey, even those labeled Active Manuka Honey. Manuka honey must have a UMF of at least 10 or above to be labeled with the UMF trademark. UMF is the only standard used worldwide to identify and measure the antibacterial strength of honey. Every batch of Active Manuka Honey is tested by an independent laboratory for UMF antibacterial activity, using testing methods developed at Waikato University.
Please note that honey with a UMF of 20 or above may be too potent for most uses and may cause adverse reactions. A UMF of 16 to 19 is considered ideal.
How does Active Manuka Honey work?
Honey has an antibacterial activity, due primarily to hydrogen peroxide formed in a "slow-release" manner by the enzyme glucose oxidase present in honey, which can vary widely in potency. Some honeys are no more antibacterial than sugar, while others can be diluted more than 100-fold and still halt the growth of bacteria. Active Manuka Honey is the only honey available for sale that is tested for its antibacterial activity. It contains an additional antibacterial component found only in honey produced from Leptospermum plants: what has been called the "Unique Manuka Factor" (UMF). There is evidence that the two antibacterial components may have a synergistic action. The enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide in honey is destroyed when honey is exposed to heat and light. But UMF is stable, so there is no concern about manuka honey losing its activity in storage. Active Manuka Honey with UMF is about twice as effective as other honey against Eschericihia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, the most common causes of infected wounds.
How does Active Manuka Honey heal wounds?
*Antibacterial. Rapidly clears infecting bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains. UMF Manuka Honey has both the hydrogen peroxide property common to most honeys and the more powerful UMF antibacterial property. These two properties together are believed to have a synergistic effect enhancing the effectiveness of each other.
*The glucose oxidase enzyme which produces hydrogen peroxide needs oxygen, but the phytochemical UMF does not. So it could remain effective even when smothered by wound dressings or in wound cavities.
*Cleanses wounds. Honey has a debriding effect.The osmotic effect of honey absorbs pus and lifts dirt out of the wound bed.
*Dressings do not stick to the surface of the wound allowing easy removal of dressings. The osmotic effect of the honey keeps the wound moist, cleanses and prevents the dressing from sticking to the wound. Tissue damage and pain are reduced when dressings are changed as there is no tearing away of newly formed tissue. Healing is more rapid.
*Reduces scarring. The honey draws body fluids and nutrients to the wound area which assists cell growth and prevents a scar forming as the wound is kept moist. Honey provides nutrients (vitamins, minerals and amino acids) to tissues.
*Promotes more rapid healing because the honey stimulates tissue regeneration. Fibroblast growth is stimulated by hydrogen peroxide. Epithelial cell growth is stimulated. These cells grow level with the skin so that no scab is formed and so no scarring and hypertrophication. Angiogenesis is stimulated - new blood vessel growth giving oxygen and nutrients to the tissues.
*Acidity of honey releases oxygen from hemoglobin. New growing cells need oxygen. Honey stimulates the white blood cells.
*Hydrogen peroxide in honey has an insulin-like effect and promotes wound healing. Insulin is a growth hormone.
*Provides acidification of the wound, which has been shown to stimulate healing, by creating an anti-inflammatory effect through the reduction in the number of inflammatory cells in wound tissue (honey has antioxidant properties) providing wound bacteria with nutrients instead of amino acids, thus encouraging the bacteria to produce lactic acid instead of ammonia (the chemical associated with odor in skin ulcers).
*Honey removes malodour from wounds by killing the bacteria which produce ammonia.
*Honey forms a protective barrier to prevent cross-infection of wounds.
*Honey does not damage the surrounding tissue.
*Honey minimizes the need for grafting.
Why is a moist wound environment good?
A moist wound environment has been shown to speed up the healing process and result in less scarring. When a wound dries and forms a scab, tissue regrowth is slowed. A moist wound environment is less painful and requires fewer dressing changes. It also prevents bandages from sticking to wounds which can cause pain and tear away newly re-formed skin tissue.
What does Honey feel like on a wound?
Most of the time the honey feels very soothing. However, you may occasionally experience a stinging or burning sensation which is caused by the high acidity level of the honey. For most people the stinging or burning will go away within a few minutes. In rare cases it can go on for some time. If this happens the honey can be washed off with warm water. If you would like, you can try the honey again on the same wound a day or two later. The stinging sensation may reduce over time.
What is h. pylori and how does Active Manuka Honey help?
h. pylori, which stands for Helicobacter Pylori, is a bacteria believed to cause most stomach ulcers, dyspepsia and peptic ulcers. Active Manuka Honey has been found to inhibit the growth of this bacteria. The peroxide antibacterial activity of other honeys (including ordinary manuka honey) was found not to be effective against helicobacter pylori. Studies are also showing that the good bacteria in the stomach are not affected by the UMF property.
Manuka honey has a long shelf life. Store at room temperature away from direct heat and sunlight. Over time the honey may need to be stirred.
How nutritious is honey?
Common table sugar is 99% sucrose. Honey, on the other hand, is composed of glucose, fructose and vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants and oligosaccharides. Although relatively low in nutrients compared to some other foods, honey contains more nutrients than table sugar. The major nutritional benefits of honey is as a concentrated source of energy with 100g of honey providing 304 Kcal, or 10.9% of the USDA Recommended Daily Intake (RDI). For nutrients, the highest level in honey is iron, at up to 18% RDI, followed by vitamin B6 (up to 16%), phosphorus (up to 6%), copper (up to 5%), vitamin C (up to 5%), vitamin B2 (up to 3.5%), zinc (up to 3.3%, magnesium (3.2%) and calcium (up to 3%). Honey has shown to help the body absorb both calcium and magnesium.
CAUTIONS:
*Honey should not be given to or used on children 12 months of age and younger due to the rare but serious risk of infant botulism.
*Diabetics should consult their doctor before including honey in their diet.
*Stop usage if you have a bad reaction to the honey. Seek medical advice if symptoms persist.
Note from Cristina: I've been using Active Manuka Honey for about a year and have had absolutely incredible results. I have not needed to use any antibiotics since using the honey. I now use only all natural products to treat my wounds and no longer have problems with infections or non-healing wounds. Please visit my Wound Photo Diary for photos of my improvement. http://www.ebinfo.homestead.com/EBWoundPhotoDiary.html
More Information:
The following articles are from the University of Waikato - Honey Research Unit
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