Topic : 04/01 The Superbug

I have heard of MRSA but was not completely aware of all its aspects until watching the show today.  This sounds like what is called a Nosocomial infection (def: infection obtained in the hospital environment).

Why is the CDC the only governmental agency involved in this?  IMHO, the NIH (National Institues of Health) should be contacted to determine the reason that so many cases of MRSA are appearing in hospitals all over the country.  Any illness which seems to be killing more people than HIV and seems to originate with a hospital stay is not one to be taken lightly.

I am very grateful to Dr. Phil for doing the show today and educating the public as to the seriousness of this disease.  I just pray that I nor anyone else in my family have no reason for hospitalization until this situation is resolved.

I have only watched the first 40 minutes of the show, but am already upset with the way this topic is being presented.  First of all, this is a BACTERIA, not a VIRUS as one of the reporters at the beginning of the show stated.  Secondly, the unfortunate death of the child was related to his IMMUNOCOMPROMISED (or unhealthy) condition.  Next, the teen who was in the hospital was treated with hospital staff using standard contact precautions for a patient with an infection, likely gowns and gloves, perhaps masks, but NOT BIOHAZARD SUITS as Dr Phil calls them.  And as the next guest, the doctor, correctly points out the teen with out-patient acquired infection is not in an immediately life-threatening situation, but this is actually quite common type of infection.  Dr Phil implies that she should be seen by a specialist the next day.  If the research were done, the staff would more correctly find that outpatient MRSA infections are quite common, and if each patient were to see a specialist IMMEDIATELY, there would not be enough specialists.

I appreciate that this issue is being addressed by the experts at the end of the show, but Dr Phil should have presented these issues first, and done his own homework.

I am a doctor who works at a small hospital.  Our hospital has a relatively low rate of MRSA colonization (different from infection), however a nearby hospital has such a high rate that all patients are assumed to be carriers (which is very different than infected, and should be addressed).

Thank you Dr. Phil for this show.  I contracted MRSA at the school I taught at in Jan. of 07.  Up till that point we had had numerous children coming down with it and finally one of our teacher's sons and then myself.  We had asked our principal to please clean the school, do a major disinfection type of cleaning and nothing was done.  We were told we were short staffed continuously.  I cleaned my classroom every week but to no avail.  My infection started as what looked like 2 spider bites on my upper hip and when I went to our clinic the Drs. treated it like that.  They tried to lance it, told me to go home, take a basic antibiotic and it would go away.  3 days later it had proceeded to move up my back and leg and had started to go septic according to the Drs.  I ended up in the hospital receiving Vancomycin bags 3 times a day for a week.  Then had to get continued antibiotics through a pick line inplanted in my arm for 2 weeks after that.  During this time I was still teaching and we continued to request a major cleaning of our school. 

Parents need to ask and understand what their children's school policy is on cleaning and if students and their parents are notified of an outbreak if one occurs at their school.  This should be mandatory so that people can be more vigilant in watching for any outbreaks that might occur with their own children.  As a science teacher I am constantly educating my students about MRSA since my up close and personal episode with it.

Thank you again for this very timely show.

Has the doctor also perscribed bactirum cream??  I know first hand that this cream has helped in MRSA infections.

Dear Dr Phil

I was a ACNA in Lee Memorial Health Care Systems  in SW Florida. I have Hospital infection MRSA. This hospital is a filthy mess when it comes  to MRSA. I no longer work there due to the fact that I worked Pediatrics and it is rampant. The employee health care Nurse  who comfirmed my infection 24hrs after exposure informed me that 80 percent of the nurses that work at Lee Memorial are Positive for MRSA. I have screamed at them because their pediatric ward is filthy. I have Lupus SLE and had been a CNA for 30 years and never contracted it until I worked in their pediatric ward. I would say that 60 percent of the patients I saw was positvie for MRSA  and that is when I got exposed. I am now facing even dire circumstances with my health and it makes it worse with the Lupus.  I tried to get unemployment, and the hospital just lies and said I quit. I am now facing cancer. So if you really want to see MRSA mess, Try Lee Memorial Healthcare Systems! SWFL Children's Hospital!