Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Ties that bind, and make you gag
Here's a complex solution to a simple problem. Doctors wear ties, which may carry germs that may add to the problem of health care acquired infections. British hospitals banned ties. In America, we made them germ resistant.
SafetyTies claims to make ties and scarves with a built-in barrier for dirt, liquids and bacteria. The company describes its "nanotechnology" and cites "independent studies" that show 99.95% resistance to H1N1 influenza. 
Whether the ties are attractive enough to wear is a matter of opinion, however. Patterns include those of MRSA microbes and other common germs. Do write us or send pictures if you actually buy one of these and wear it to your health care facility.
"In our effort to stop the spread of H1N1, we need every tool at our disposal," said SafeSmart co-founder April Strider in a press release. "While vaccinations and handwashing are obviously the first line of defense, SafetyTies and SafetyScarves are an easy, sensible and fashionable way for individuals to help reduce the spread of H1N1."
Or, doctors can stop wearing them. We've covered this issue before. ACP Hospitalist has a bit more practical advice from our magazine and our weekly e-news about serious efforts to reduce health care acquired infections. And, others have suggested using dedicated stethoscopes in rooms dedicated to treating resistant infections.
UPDATE: Doctors are buying these ties. Some feel a tie conveys respect to the patient and have chosen to adopt their use.
posted by Ryan DuBosar at
12:37 PM
0 Comments
Friday, March 6, 2009
MRSA shouldn't be funny, but...
We know new information about MRSA is of great interest to our readers, so here's an important news update from the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. An outbreak of community-acquired MRSA in San Diego has been traced back to...a hospital worker? a football team? No, a baby elephant!
But don't throw out your zoo passes yet. The CDC's brave investigators (you have to respect anyone who takes rectal samples from a herd of elephants) have isolated the behaviors which put one at highest risk of developing EA-MRSA (that's my suggested acronym for elephant-acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Among the highest risk activities: bathing the elephant, doing his laundry, and...I'm not making this up...trunk blowing. A helpful footnote to the CDC report explains trunk blowing as "Caretakers blew air with their unmasked mouths into the calf's trunk to stimulate bottle feeding."
This funny story has a sad ending though. The 13 humans infected with MRSA recovered without surgery or hospitalization, but the little elephant that started it all failed to thrive and had to be put to sleep.
Labels: MRSA
posted by Stacey Butterfield at
10:18 AM
0 Comments
Thursday, September 11, 2008
MRSA mutterings
In case there's anyone who hasn't already heard all about the disease, the CDC is launch a MRSA awareness campaign. The project aims to teach parents how to reduce their children's risk of acquiring community MRSA--basically by maintaining proper hygiene. According to the press release, they'd also like health care professionals to get involved in the education effort.
More glamorous MRSA-reduction projects were unveiled at the recent meeting of the Society for General Microbiology. A British study found that a paint which contained particles of titanium dioxide killed MRSA when it absorbed ultraviolet or infrared light, reported the Washington Post. And, cited in the same story, another piece of preliminary research determined that putting a certain green dye in infected wounds killed off the bacteria.
But for now, the experts said, the best way to not spread MRSA is still the simplest--wash your hands.
Labels: MRSA
posted by Stacey Butterfield at
2:11 PM
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ACP Internist hosted Grand Rounds on June 16, wrapping up the best of the medical blogosphere. Click here for the complete wrap-up.
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