Superbugs are not a six-legged horror from a 1950’s sci-fi film. They are far scarier. They are invisible to the eye. They are all around us. They are bacteria that have become resistant to most of the antibiotics available. The term “multidrug-resistant bacteria” is the term used in the medical field, meaning that the bacteria cannot be killed by many antibiotics.
At one time, superbugs were found mainly in hospitals. The chances of contracting a superbug were mainly a concern when visiting a medical center. But now, more superbugs are found in places where the general population can be exposed to them. Gyms, beaches, pools, airplanes, daycare centers, anywhere that people are in contact with many other people for any length of time. Many of these strains of bacteria can be found in healthy people, with no signs of illness.
One superbug is MRSA; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It is a staphylococcus bacterium. These bacteria are found in the nose, in the respiratory tract, and on the skin. A healthy person may carry these bacteria and could transfer it to other people they come into contact with. These bacteria used to be only contracted in hospitals, but new variants of the bacteria can be found in livestock and pets, coastal waters, and locker rooms. MRSA can infect a person, then spread to the bloodstream. When it enters the bloodstream, it can infect surrounding tissues. Treatment may include hospitalization. With all the superbugs, serious illness–and sometimes even death–may occur.
Superbugs have become more prevalent due to the improper use of antibiotics. Underuse of antibiotic happens when a patient does not take all or fails to follow the instructions, of the antibiotic they have been given. Overuse is the overprescription of antibiotic. One example of overuse is using an antibiotic to treat a viral infection. A virus cannot be treated with antibiotics.
Superbugs are scary, but they can be controlled. Prevention is the key. And it is cheaper to prevent than to treat. The best preventive measures are cleaning and sanitation, especially in the workplace.
Simple Steps to Take to Help Prevent Superbugs:
- Washing hands. Use soap and wash the hands for at least twenty seconds, under running water.
- Use an alcohol base sanitizer wipe or lotion.
- Keep any work areas clean.
- Keep any common areas; such as bathrooms, break rooms, and boardrooms, clean.
- Anyone with a cut or break on the skin should keep the cut covered and clean.
- Some superbugs are resistant to some disinfectants; make sure that the disinfectant being used is potent.
Superbugs are a growing concern outside of hospitals and medical facilitates. But with the correct information, hygiene, and cleaning they should be easier to defeat than the monsters in those old sci-fi films.
