Foo - Is anyone else sick of the term "superbug?"

I mean really. Yes, MRSA is a problem, and it can be very, very stubborn. But the media has latched onto this in its typically parasitic style, milking it for all it's worth (no doubt to reap more advertising dollars), meanwhile scaring the bejeebus out of soccer moms everywhere.

But ya know- if this gets everyone (hey- healthcare pros included) to wash their hands more, what the heck. Maybe there's a bright side to this, but I wish they'd lay off the scare tactics.

the jokes got old after about fifteen minutes

That'll teach you to pay any attention whatsoever to the news media. :rolleyes:

That'll teach you to pay any attention whatsoever to the news media. :rolleyes:

:beer:
I'll drink to that...

Drinking to that right (glug) now.
(Michelob Ultra Amber, if anyone's buying the next round!)

I thought this thread was gonna be about air cooled VW's :(

I thought this thread was gonna be about air cooled VW's :(

:D And I thought you were talking about air-cooled Vegas! Hoo boy (I need my glasses checked) :eek:

That'll teach you to pay any attention whatsoever to the news media. :rolleyes:

Yeah- sort of hard to do, but yeah.... :o:o:o

I thought this thread was gonna be about air cooled VW's :(Bah, Superbeetles are all fat chicks anyway. :p


Yeah- sort of hard to do, but yeah.... :o:o:oNot as hard as you'd think. :)

You should be scared. We let corporations have everything they wanted, and their gift to us as a thank you is a new plague. A completely uneccesary and totally preventable plague.

We had something that used to stop it. But we let corporations put it in everything. Which turned the ordinary bug into a superbug.

^^^ alrighty then- let the games begin. Anyone have popcorn?

Not as hard as you'd think. :)

Actually, it is, when the media is calling for sound bites on this stuff all the time.

Actually, it is, when the media is calling for sound bites on this stuff all the time.Ah, you work in a related field. I stand corrected, then. :)

Ah, you work in a related field. I stand corrected, then. :)

Epidemiology, actually.

Wash your hands more often and STOP DEMANDING THE DOCTOR TO PERSCRIBE ANTIBIOTICS IF YOUR BODY IS ABLE TO FIGHT THAT **** ON ITS OWN!

That's my theory and i'm sticking to it. Well, one theory i learned in General Pathology... :lol:

Wash your hands more often and STOP DEMANDING THE DOCTOR TO PERSCRIBE ANTIBIOTICS IF YOUR BODY IS ABLE TO FIGHT THAT **** ON ITS OWN!

That's my theory and i'm sticking to it. Well, one theory i learned in General Pathology... :lol:

Sage advice. Just to clarify: have a cold? No antibiotic will help you. Have bronchitis? Sorry, but no antibiotics for that either. Don't ever share antibiotics or use another's. Don't hoard antibiotics- take every last one of the tabs or caps prescribed for you unless directed to stop by your practitioner. Don't self-medicate with antibiotics. And, handwashing is the number one means of prevention, bar none.

Not nearly as sick of iEverything. :rolleyes:

Not nearly as sick of iEverything. :rolleyes:

Ah yes- that goes without saying :(

Download this!

[[ http://www.bikeforums.net/images/misc/multipage.gif Attached File: iSuperbug.exe ]]

Wash your hands more often and STOP DEMANDING THE DOCTOR TO PERSCRIBE ANTIBIOTICS IF YOUR BODY IS ABLE TO FIGHT THAT **** ON ITS OWN!

That's my theory and i'm sticking to it. Well, one theory i learned in General Pathology... :lol:

Actually, don't wash your hands so much. This gives you exposure to the lesser germs on a continual basis thus challenging the immune system to work to eradicate the invader. When a 'superbug' comes along your immune system is strong and you've developed resistances from auto imunization and you'll kick its ass automagically.

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What, your momma didn't teach you to wash your hands after going to the bathroom?

No, she taught me not to piss on my fingers!

My grandmother died of an iatrogenic staph infection after hip surgery. I myself contracted iatrogenic camphobacter. I should have been hospitalized but I didn't have health insurance at the time. I lost 15 lbs. in five days and the CDC disqualified me from work for 2 weeks. It took me about two months to fully recover.

You can laugh all you want about the latest media frenzy but when you get one of these infections it is definitely for real.

Actually, don't wash your hands so much. This gives you exposure to the lesser germs on a continual basis thus challenging the immune system to work to eradicate the invader. When a 'superbug' comes along your immune system is strong and you've developed resistances from auto imunization and you'll kick its ass automagically.

*****************************************************************

What, your momma didn't teach you to wash your hands after going to the bathroom?

No, she taught me not to piss on my fingers!

Stacey's point is good. The kids today have no immune system because they have grown up in a sterile environment. Let them eat dirt.

Is anyone else sick of the term "superbug?"
Not as much as I'm sick of hearing the term hero for anybody who picks their nose within a 10 mile radius of somebody dying.

Stacey's point is good. The kids today have no immune system because they have grown up in a sterile environment. Let them eat dirt.

:lol: True. :)

Wash your hands enough to reduce the spread of disease but don't be OCD about it.

+1 on letting your kids get dirty. Of course be smart about it, but don't be nuts about keeping kids sterile.

If you never get sick you've either got a totally kick@$$ immune system or you're living in a bubble...

I'm not nearly as sick of it as the .0000000000000000000000000000000000000000002% of the population that actually contracted it.

Disaster Du Jour. You have entertain the masses; sexual predators, sharks, killer bees oh my. Everyone should just stay inside and hide.

Disaster Du Jour. You have entertain the masses; sexual predators, sharks, killer bees oh my. Everyone should just stay inside and watch more commercials.Theeeeere you go.

My grandmother died of an iatrogenic staph infection after hip surgery. I myself contracted iatrogenic camphobacter. I should have been hospitalized but I didn't have health insurance at the time. I lost 15 lbs. in five days and the CDC disqualified me from work for 2 weeks. It took me about two months to fully recover.

You can laugh all you want about the latest media frenzy but when you get one of these infections it is definitely for real.

I'm not laughing.:(

I'm sorry for your loss (my mom died from a hospital-acquired VRE 10 years ago) and your experience with campy (and I'm not talking Campagnolo). That's a tough deal. Just to clarify- I didn't post the thread to make light of the situation, only to suggest that the media has little idea of what they are talking about when it comes to this stuff, or health issues in general for that matter. Finally though, they (at least the outlets around here, and NPR) seem to finally be realizing that it might be good to talk to a real, live infectious disease specialist, but a lot of the "cry wolf" damage has already been done.

To follow up on Portis' post, there are many more urgent health issues than MRSA, but they don't lend themselves well to sensationalism like MRSA does, where schools are being closed and kids are at risk. For example, where were the media when it was becoming glaringly evident that there was simply too much inappropriate antibiotic use and prescribing? I guess that story just isn't sexy enough, and they STILL ignore it, even now as we reap the benefits of the profligate use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for a viral infection.

I agree that MRSA is a nasty bug- no disputing that. But I feel very strongly that much (not all) of the print and broadcast media have created a situation where there's panic (totally unnecessary, BTW) which will undoubtedly be followed by a laissez-fair attitude toward the bug (and others as well) and personal hygiene.

And while we're on the topic of hygiene, yes, it is important to wash your hands frequently. You don't have to be OCD about it (unless you work in a healthcare setting :p), but handwashing is the single most important thing you can do to prevent the spread of infection. There's a ton of evidence that supports this- just search PubMed.

I agree that MRSA is a nasty bug- no disputing that. But I feel very strongly that much (not all) of the print and broadcast media have created a situation where there's panic (totally unnecessary, BTW) which will undoubtedly be followed by a laissez-fair attitude toward the bug (and others as well) and personal hygiene.


I'm not accusing anyone here of being insensitive because I think the way the media is covering this is kind of ridiculous too. They give an acronym to a drug-resistant staph infection and everyone goes nuts.

But I think you have a point here, that as soon as the media frenzy runs its course, folks will ignore this problem as if it had been a hoax. I picked up camphobacter from runny egg yolks of all things. The simple solution is to outlaw animal feed that includes antibiotics (poor Monsanto!) but if no one takes "superbugs" seriously, these practices will continue to create them.

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