Lauren's Corner

We now know that MRSA is passed on by human contact and is also airborne. Washing your hands frequently is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection. So, if you are in a hospital as a patient or visitor, traveling - especially on an airplane, in close quarters and using public restrooms, please remember to keep yourself safe and healthy by following some of these helpful effective tips:

- Clean your hands properly before meals and after using the toilet.
- Try to avoid excessive shaking of hands with clients or friends.
- Do not hold handrails in public places, this goes for door knobs, elevator buttons and counter tops. (There are easy ways to get around this.)
- Always make sure you have plenty of anti-bacterial gel and wipes on hand. (They are easy to carry anywhere and are sold in convenient travel sizes.) use them often.
- When using public gyms and workout equipment, make sure you wipe down all surfaces with alcohol wipes before and after your personal use.
- When using public showers, locker rooms and pools, make sure you have the proper shoes. Never walk on the floors with bare feet. The floors in public areas are a breeding ground for bacteria.
- Only take antibiotics when necessary and always complete the full cycle of treatment as instructed by your doctor.
- Do keep your immune system healthy and strong. Getting the proper amount of sleep as well as proper nutrition, vitamins and supplements will give your body the strong defense it needs to fight off MRSA.

Signs & Symptoms of MRSA.

Staph infections, including MRSA generally start as small red bumps that look like pimples, boils or bug bites. They can quickly turn into a deep painful abscess. Some of the bacteria will remain on the skins surface but when left unchecked they begin to go deep into the body and can become life threatening infections by getting deep into the blood stream, joints and bones, eventually traveling to the lungs and valves of the heart.