Flesh-Eating Bacteria

[Leader of the Banned]

I have another theory on hand sanitizers. Overuse of them is going to kill weaker germs which exist in large enough numbers to dominate, so that the resistant bacteria are not able to thrive. Our bodies can do a fair job of fighting off the weaker pathogens, and they are good hit squad so to speak for taking down the really bad guys. We may be better off in some cases to just let the bacteria fight it out. Our real enemies are the resistant bacteria, and we're killing off their enemies, when we really should let our immune systems handle some of this work. I don't think an ounce of prevention necessarily holds true in some of these cases. I think liberal use of hand sanitizers is just as bad as over prescribing antibiotics.

 

[Beach Runner]

What a crazy scare monger title. I have a better chance of getting killed in an accident than contacting a flesh eating bacteria. i was in the hospital 123 days 2 yrs ago and would have had 100 times better chance of contacting mersa than a flesheating disease. what 25 million people get in the gulf a yr? how many get a flesh eating bacteria? 10? 20 ? even 40? what % is that .0000000000000000012. Enjoy life and don't sweat little things

I didn't mean to be a scare monger. I thought I was providing a service. I had always heard that the salt water in the Gulf is healing. But I didn't know that there is a certain bacteria in the Gulf that can cause big problems in warm weather if you have an open wound, immune disorders, are an alcoholic or diabetic, etc.

People post whenever someone is bitten by a shark in the Gulf and it makes national news. What's the probability of that? Don't call me names because I'm providing information.

I have another theory on hand sanitizers. Overuse of them is going to kill weaker germs which exist in large enough numbers to dominate, so that the resistant bacteria are not able to thrive. Our bodies can do a fair job of fighting off the weaker pathogens, and they are good hit squad so to speak for taking down the really bad guys. We may be better off in some cases to just let the bacteria fight it out. Our real enemies are the resistant bacteria, and we're killing off their enemies, when we really should let our immune systems handle some of this work. I don't think an ounce of prevention necessarily holds true in some of these cases. I think liberal use of hand sanitizers is just as bad as over prescribing antibiotics.

I actually do wonder about this, and I am on the lookout for research study results to be reported on this topic. I know that one is better off washing one's hands than using hand sanitizer and only use a hand sanitizer as a last resort.

That being said, two of my docs are at Emory Clinic. When you check in, the receptionist gives you a card asking you to notice whether or not everyone who enters your room uses hand sanitizer, whether or not they use it when they leave the room, and comments (like whether or not they use it after touching something non-sterile). Then when you check out, the receptionist wants you to fill out that card before you finish checking out. And there are sinks with soap in every examining room.

 

[hippiechick]

Good grief, enough already BR. I for one think your posts are TMI.

 

[Beach Runner]

Good grief, enough already BR. I for one think your posts are TMI.

LOL. That's how I roll, especially when I'm alone for weeks at a time. Not even a PUI.

BTW our niece is having surgery every other day to contain the infection. Prayers would be appreciated.

Sorry, I keep forgetting that this is not the old Sowal.com when most of us knew each other so we discussed personal things on the message board. Think I'll move back over to FB for a while and talk to people I know. They are nice to me over there because they know me.

To our SoWal community:
~I love you long. I love you strong. But don't do anything stupid, people (such as not following some of the experts' advice that I've quoted).

(quote stolen from MMG)

 

[sadie1]

Beach Runner i'm from atlanta also and i was at emory for about 75 of my days in hospital.i had 30 doctors at emory stumped and they called my case one of 10 a yr they never fig out as i never got any diagnosis. anyway i take one day at a time. if a vast many people got this bacteria getting in the gulf then its time to worry.in the last 50 yrs i bet a billion or more people have been in the guld yet this is the first i or 99% of the people on this board has heard of this bacteria so it must be very very very isolated. but theres no hurt in taking precautions in life if your more susceptible to disease.Its like saying if you eat red meat by the truckloa daily you'll get hear disease and don't eat beef as its bad. taking certain precautions is always prudent

 

[Lady D]

We did not go in the gulf, not even down to the water's edge. But we usually don't anyway. I do other things down there.

 

[Zebraspots]

I have been swimming for months with no problems.

You are in far more danger from drunks in golf carts and people texting while driving.

 

[Leader of the Banned]

What about the brain-eating amoeba that's been in the news? I wonder as you lie there slowing dying from a brain-eating amoeba, what would be going through your mind?

 

[Lady D]

I have been swimming for months with no problems.

You are in far more danger from drunks in golf carts and people texting while driving.

I love to sit at night and listen to the sound of the surf from the deck. Makes me relaxed enough to sleep good.

 

[Beach Runner]

My doc said don't worry about it. The chances are virtually zero that one can be affected by Vv bacteria. So I'm not worrying about it.

Don't worry about it either, Lady D.