2008 Woodie Awards
Staph infections prove deadly
Ashley D. McGee
LIFESTYLES EDITOR
ladypoeticsoul@aol.com
Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: Lifestyles
- Page 1 of 1
It is common for people to get sick during this time of year, but itchy eyes and a runny nose are not the only things you have to worry about this cold and flu season.
Recently, there has been an outbreak of a potentially fatal strain of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus called Methicillin-resistant Staph aureus, which is often referred simply as MRSA. MRSA, like all types of staph, exists in several mammals and birds, in the air and on most surfaces. Warning signs that an individual have been exposed to staph are usually very easy to notice. Staph infections often cause a number of skin infections such as boils, styes and impetigo are just a few.
Boils are very deep infections of hair follicles and usually appear on the neck or face when associated with staph. They are up-risen portions of the skin, which are usually red and inflamed. The bacterium also produces styes. A stye is an infection of the follicle around the eye and is visible in the form of a tender, red sore on the eyelid. Impetigo is a symptom often seen in small children. It is an infection children get around their mouth, which causes painful blisters and red or scabby skin.
The tragic death of an 11-year-old girl in neighboring Jackson County, Miss., has recently brought the seriousness of staph infections back into the limelight. Though local news stations have been dedicating much-deserved attention to this highly infectious bacterium, deaths resulting from staph infections have been getting a large amount of national attention as well.
The Center for Disease Control reported over 900 deaths related to MRSA infections in 2005. A 17-year-old male in Bedford, Va. died early last week after being hospitalized for over a week for a MRSA infection.
At the moment, th best way to prevent coming ill from MRSA is to periodically wash your hand, thoroughly throughout the day. Keeping a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you at all times is also recommended.
Recently, there has been an outbreak of a potentially fatal strain of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus called Methicillin-resistant Staph aureus, which is often referred simply as MRSA. MRSA, like all types of staph, exists in several mammals and birds, in the air and on most surfaces. Warning signs that an individual have been exposed to staph are usually very easy to notice. Staph infections often cause a number of skin infections such as boils, styes and impetigo are just a few.
Boils are very deep infections of hair follicles and usually appear on the neck or face when associated with staph. They are up-risen portions of the skin, which are usually red and inflamed. The bacterium also produces styes. A stye is an infection of the follicle around the eye and is visible in the form of a tender, red sore on the eyelid. Impetigo is a symptom often seen in small children. It is an infection children get around their mouth, which causes painful blisters and red or scabby skin.
The tragic death of an 11-year-old girl in neighboring Jackson County, Miss., has recently brought the seriousness of staph infections back into the limelight. Though local news stations have been dedicating much-deserved attention to this highly infectious bacterium, deaths resulting from staph infections have been getting a large amount of national attention as well.
The Center for Disease Control reported over 900 deaths related to MRSA infections in 2005. A 17-year-old male in Bedford, Va. died early last week after being hospitalized for over a week for a MRSA infection.
At the moment, th best way to prevent coming ill from MRSA is to periodically wash your hand, thoroughly throughout the day. Keeping a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you at all times is also recommended.
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