Melbourne is about 2000kms (1240miles) away, lets hope it stays there.....
New superbug detected in Australia
Australia is in the grip of a new superbug that can cause potentially fatal colon infections, an editorial in the latest Medical Journal of Australia says.
The first case of an epidemic strain of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) thought to have been acquired in Australia has been identified at a hospital in Melbourne, and further clusters have been reported in residential aged care facilities, Dr Rhonda Stuart of the Monash Medical Centre's Department of Infectious Diseases said.
C. difficile infection can cause conditions ranging from mild diarrhoea to pseudomembranous colitis to toxic megacolon, and can be fatal. It is the most common cause of hospital-acquired diarrhoea, and now rivals methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSRA) as the most common health care-associated infection in the United States.
Since 2000, C. difficile infection rates associated with an epidemic strain (C. difficile ribotype 027) have increased in healthcare facilities in the US, Canada and Europe. This strain has an increased resistance to antibiotics, increased production of toxins and spores, and causes more morbidity and mortality.
"Australia is now also in the grip of this new strain of C. difficile," Dr Stuart said.
"It is sobering to contemplate that what has occurred in the US, Canada and Europe is potentially and imminently on our doorstep."
We must learn from the experience of experts in these countries so that Australia can avoid a similar experience – we already have the benefit of their hindsight to guide us."
In a related article, the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases has published its guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of C. difficile.
They include stool tests for anyone who develops diarrhoea after a course of antibiotics or while in hospital, and treating patients with metronidazole in mild to moderate cases and vancomycin in more severe or recurrent cases.
The most serious cases may require surgery, Associate Professor Dr Allen Cheng of Monash University's Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine said.
(Source: Australian Medical Association: Medical Journal of Australia)
Superbug arrives in Australia
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
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Gabes-Apg
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Superbug arrives in Australia
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Rich,
Of course, one's personal opinion of the "Beetle", determines which scenario would be perceived as the most unpleasant.
Tex
Of course, one's personal opinion of the "Beetle", determines which scenario would be perceived as the most unpleasant.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
It's bugs like this that make me fearful of going into hospitals. Is this spread from unsanitary conditions or is it airborne? I know my cousin works as a nurse at a childrens' hospital and it seems like his kids are always sick with some bug. Is nano silver or colloidal silver a antibacterial? Could I spray it on me to kill any bacteria I may pick up in a hospital?
Annie
Annie,
C. difficile is easily spread in hospital/nursing home settings very easily when staff aren't *perfect* at washing their hands. It's easy to blame them (and sometimes they deserve it) - but you can see how easy it would be to touch a doorknob with 'contaminated' gloves, then come in and wash your hands, and put on gloves... then pick it up again on the way out, and maybe transfer it to the next pair of gloves.
It's much more difficult to eliminate with routine hand-washing. When my late mother had it (repeatedly), they treated her hospital room like a haz-mat site. IN THEORY. In fact, of course, everything a care-giver wears or touches could be affected. I had a glancing blow with C. diff when I first had MC - so I was a maniac when my mother got it. I am pretty sure it was my efforts, more than the medical regime, that finally stopped it from recurring (what would have been a fourth time).
Some strains are apparently much more pernicious than others.
You're right to fear hospitalization, though it's sometimes unavoidable. My mother absolutely needed to be hospitalized at the point when she was so dehydrated she was practically hallucinating. I appreciate that her doctor fought to keep her out of the hospital, but YIKES! Probiotics will not outcompete C-diff., but can help prevent its recurrence.
Hope you can stay this side of the hospital doors!
C. difficile is easily spread in hospital/nursing home settings very easily when staff aren't *perfect* at washing their hands. It's easy to blame them (and sometimes they deserve it) - but you can see how easy it would be to touch a doorknob with 'contaminated' gloves, then come in and wash your hands, and put on gloves... then pick it up again on the way out, and maybe transfer it to the next pair of gloves.
It's much more difficult to eliminate with routine hand-washing. When my late mother had it (repeatedly), they treated her hospital room like a haz-mat site. IN THEORY. In fact, of course, everything a care-giver wears or touches could be affected. I had a glancing blow with C. diff when I first had MC - so I was a maniac when my mother got it. I am pretty sure it was my efforts, more than the medical regime, that finally stopped it from recurring (what would have been a fourth time).
Some strains are apparently much more pernicious than others.
You're right to fear hospitalization, though it's sometimes unavoidable. My mother absolutely needed to be hospitalized at the point when she was so dehydrated she was practically hallucinating. I appreciate that her doctor fought to keep her out of the hospital, but YIKES! Probiotics will not outcompete C-diff., but can help prevent its recurrence.
Hope you can stay this side of the hospital doors!