Replies to '04/01 The Superbug'

Quote From: village99

I must admit, as a healthcare professional, it is frustrating that antibiotic resistance exists - but it does. It is also interesting to note that the general consensus is that a hospital-acquired infection is a surprising thing. Yes, is is something we do try to prevent, but the fact of the matter is that you are already crawling with bacteria. Your skin, for example, carries strains of Staphlococcus and Streptococcus as part of its NORMAL flora. Your intestines also carry types of bacteria that are usually not harmful or even beneficial to you. (think about all of the yoguart commercials that talk about "active cultures" - those are references to bacterias) Hospital stays may also include procedures that increase the risk of infection - surgery, catheters (allow bacteria to get into areas that otherwise have no bacteria), ventilators, aspiration (when food/water gets into the lungs and introduces bacteria) - and though preventative steps are taken, they are not 100% effective all of the time.

As for MRSA, the Superbug (a name which I feel is sensationalistic in nature and designed to create a panic-like sense of urgency in the name of ratings and not for any other purpose) - it is not completely resistant to antibiotics available. There are different classes of antibiotics and MRSA is resistant to Penicillins and other beta-lactams, a class of drugs which most Staphlococcus strains are sensative to. However, other classes of antibiotics exist which will work against it. Many are available IV only, so it may not be so simple as just prescribing a tablet or capsule to take at home, but many cases can be managed. It also may require a longer treatment course - a 5 day Z-Pack won't cut it here, but that doesn't mean the treatment will not work.

I do sympathize with those who have lost loved ones, but you would do well to remember that the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, etc. that are involved in patient care are doing what is in the best interest of the patient. You could even make the argument that overuse of antibiotics in recent years may be related to a prescriber's fear of lawsuits. Not to digress, but if we continue to perpetuate a society which is automatically on the defensive and ready to strike at the first hint of "blame" in a situation, we will no longer be seeking to treat our patients, but to simply placate them and cover our behinds. This is not a society in which I would like to practice.

To finish, there are safeguards and precautions that are in place and will continue to be improved upon, but it is a situation that requires learning from mistakes and seeking to make improvement on the future by looking at past data. That is what we are looking at now - improving outcomes for the future by looking at where we've been and currently stand