Newly Found Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria: CRE

Before I go into what I think about CRE, I think you all should know what it is.

 CRE stands for ...

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae 

This bacteria is known to be antibiotic resistant and found mostly hospital and medical care facilities. A post in USATODAY states that "The antibiotic resistance is spread by mobile pieces of DNA that can move between different species of bacteria, creating new, drug-defying bugs". These "bugs"...or CRE is becoming a threat to patients in these health care facilities. The CDC states that "CRE bacteria are most often spread person-to-person through contact with infected or colonized people, particularly contact with wounds or stool. In healthcare settings, CRE infections occur among sick patients who are receiving treatment for other conditions. Patients whose care requires devices like ventilators (breathing machines), urinary (bladder) catheters, or intravenous (vein) catheters, and patients who are taking long courses of certain antibiotics are among those at risk for CRE infections."......Quite frankly this really does scare me. Hospitals and healthcare facilities are supposed to be places where you get cured or you get care for infectious such as these, but if the place of expected care is also the source of infection, then what is one to do? Yes, I understand, there is bacteria everywhere, but the fact that it is resistant to most antibiotics has me worried. In some cases the infections caused by this bacteria are deadly.

But for people who are a bit worried like me, CDC suggests a few things...

Patients should:

• Expect all doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers wash their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub before and after touching your body or tubes going into your body.
• Clean their own hands often, especially:
  • Before preparing or eating food
  • Before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
  • Before and after changing wound dressings or bandages or handling medical devices
  • After using the bathroom
  • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• Ask questions. Understand what is being done to you, the risks and benefits.

Hookworms (Ancylostoma Duodenale)

This hookworm parasite is classified under Nematodes. The hosts are usually cats, dogs, and humans...so yes...that means you and I! To make it even worse, hookworms are the only parasites with teeth! Ouch! But the better thing about it is that it is only found in some parts of the United States, and mostly around  southern Europe, north Africa, India, China, southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and South America.

The information required from the CDC states that "Hookworms live in the small intestine. Hookworm eggs are passed in the feces of an infected person. If the infected person defecates outside (near bushes, in a garden, or field) or if the feces of an infected person are used as fertilizer, eggs are deposited on soil. They can then mature and hatch, releasing larvae (immature worms). The larvae mature into a form that can penetrate the skin of humans. Hookworm infection is mainly acquired by walking barefoot on contaminated soil. One kind of hookworm can also be transmitted through the ingestion of larvae."

Treatment of this hookworm can be through the use of Anthelminthic medication, which is for the use of parasites.

For more information one can visit the CDC's website 

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/hookworm/gen_info/index.html

Lead...and NOT the kind that's in your pencil

Lead is a metal that is highly toxic. I remember when I was younger I thought that the leadin our pencils was actually that kind of lead, but come to find out it was actually graphite.....but lead is in a few things that we know and use everyday. Lead can be found in mamy items including paints, ceramics, pipes, cosmetics, batteries and gasoline. Although its toxic, it is also low in cost, high in abundance, and it's physical properties or convienient. Most of the lead poisoning cases come from households and their paint. Great exposure to lead can lead to different neurological disorders such as lack of muscle coordination, convulsions, and coma.
Remember to be careful when dealing with lead!