Are You Concerned About Staph Infection / MRSA?

MRSA Infections Becoming Commonplace Among Texas High School Football Players

2008-07-30T16:49:00.009-04:00

by David Gutierrez (NaturalNews)

Infection with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is 16 times higher than the national average among Texas high school football players, according to three studies conducted by the Texas Department of Health Services.MRSA is an antibiotic resistant version of the same bacteria that causes staph infections. If untreated, staph infections can spread to the blood and from there to internal organs, with potentially lethal consequences.

A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that MRSA kills more people in the United States than any other infection tracked by the CDC, including AIDS.

The disease is often associated with hospitals, but in recent years has become more common in other institutional settings such as prisons, nursing homes and schools.

Because the disease can live harmlessly on a person's skin until it enters through an abrasion, it is easily spread through physical contact, making athletes who share locker rooms particularly susceptible.MRSA infection rates are higher among football players than among other athletes, perhaps because football players are more likely to get minor skin abrasions when they slide in the turf.

A total of 276 football players in the United States contracted the disease between 2003 and 2005, translating to 517 out of every 100,000. This contrasts sharply with the overall national rate of 32 per 100,000.

As the disease has become more widespread, health experts have increasingly come to view it as a major public health threat.

"This is an epidemic,'' said MRSA researcher David Smith. "It's a big problem, and it's likely to get bigger.''

A study co-authored by Smith and published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases found that hospitalizations in the United States due to MRSA more than doubled between 1999 and 2005.

Athletes and people in institutional settings can reduce their risk of contracting MRSA by washing their hands frequently, washing and covering skin wounds, disinfecting whirlpools between users and not sharing towels or razors.

DEBORAH'S NOTE: Therapeutic grade essential oils have natural chemistries that are shown in peer reviewed studies to neutralize harmful pathogens, including MRSA!!! Please contact me if you would like to receive a copy of some of these reports via email, or learn of simple ways to utilize essential oils for this issue! watertiger89@verizon.net

WORRIED ABOUT STAPH AT SCHOOL?

2007-12-09T17:48:00.011-05:00

Protect Your Kids from MRSA Infections

Date updated: October 25, 2007
Article provided by Revolution Health Group

You've more than likely heard the recent news that potentially deadly, drug-resistant staph infections are on the rise, according to a study published in JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association). The study reports that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are more common — both in and out of hospitals — than experts once thought.

More than 90,000 Americans get potentially deadly infections each year from this drug-resistant staph "superbug," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, which reported the findings in the Oct. 17 issue of JAMA.

However, the study found that the majority of MRSA outbreaks are in health care settings such as hospitals and nursing homes.

About 85% of all invasive MRSA infections were associated with health care settings — two–thirds of which surfaced in the community among people who were hospitalized, underwent a medical procedure or resided in a long–term care facility within the previous year, according to the study.In contrast, the other 15% of reported infections were considered to be community-associated — which means that the infection occurred in people without documented health care risk factors.

Spread of MRSA infections preventable

Schools nationwide are reporting outbreaks of Staphylococcus aureus skin infections. Some of them are MRSA infections, which has recently caused two student deaths. But the spread of these infections is preventable "through rigorous hygiene and cleanliness," says Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D., chairman of the New York City-based Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths (RID).

Since most of these infections are being spread in school gyms and locker rooms as athletes with minor cuts and abrasions share equipment, there are steps you, your family and the schools can take to reduce the risk.

(End of Article)

Essential Oils vs. Chemicals and Antimicrobial Agents

Chemical cleaners and anti-microbial sanitizers are simple chemistry that does not change. This has long been a selling point however, in effect, it could be considered dead, non intelligent chemistry that opportunistic bacteria, virus, etc. may easily develop resistance to.

Therapeutic grade essential oils contain complex, living, intelligent chemistry that opportunistic pathogen has difficulty developing resistance to. The multiple constituents in any single oil alone exceed that of chemicals; imagine what a blend of oils has to offer?

Melaleuca, Lavender, peppermint and thyme essential oils showed the strongest killing power against MRSA and VRE antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to studies at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.

DIFFUSING A BLEND OF CLOVE , CINNAMON, LEMON, EUCALYPTUS AND ROSEMARY OILS KILLED OVER 99% OF BACTERIA IN 12 MINUTES.

The longer the essential oil blend (Thieves) was diffused, the greater the reduction in microbes, according to the lead Scientist Diane Horne, Weber State University.

CONSIDER ESSENTIAL OILS

Investigate the therapeutic grade essential blend named after the Three Thieves, and research that validates certain essential oils contained in this blend against resistant bacteria.

Consider this line of natural, organic and holistic products for your family’s protection and your peace of mind.

It can be diffused in the home, applied topically, used to sanitize hands, clothes and equipment and is FDA approved as a Dietary Supplement.

(Read more about this blend and how to purchase it at http://watertiger.younglivingworld.com/ or email me for research reports and information at watertiger89@verizon.net )

A few natural tools to protect against MSRA infections and pathogens:

1. Clean hands frequently. Apply a drop of essential oil of Thieves blend, clove, eucalyptus radiata or lemon to hands and feet as a natural microbial barrier. Be sure to use therapeutic grade oils that contain living, beneficial chemistry, other oils have been destroyed due to un-natural distillation practices and chemical fillers.

2. Tuck a small container of Thieves® Spray, Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier or Wipes your child's book bag — if your child is mature enough to use it properly.

3. Educators, install dispensers of Thieves@ Foaming Hand Soap or Thieves Spray inside each classroom.

4. Warn students not to share gym clothes, towels and other personal items. MRSA bacteria can live on fabrics and
hard surfaces for up to 90 days.

5. Warn students against sharing bars of soap. Use pump dispensers only.

6. Educators, ensure that all shared sports equipment (wrestling mats, baseball gloves, gymnastics equipment, etc.)
and locker room facilities such as benches are cleaned with Thieves® Household Cleaner, spray a dilution in water and let sit for a moment or two before wiping clear.

7. Educators, make sure that when a student gets a cut or abrasion on the playground or in class, it is cleaned immediately by someone whose hands are also clean and protected with sterile gloves! Classrooms should have a first-aid kit or ready access to a school nurse. Thieves® Spray or Foaming Hand Soap would be quite useful in that process.

8. Wipe down sports equipment and other high-touch surfaces as well as washable keyboards for computers with a dilution of Thieves® Household Cleaner.

9. School authorities should periodically have surfaces in the gym and classrooms tested in order to know the extent of MRSA contamination.

10. Athletes, gym teachers and coaches should be given extra awareness tools to reduce their heightened risk of MSRA exposure.

11. Parents, consider adding a capful of Thieves® Household Cleaner to your young athlete’s laundry to sanitize wash.

12. Sanitize fruits, vegetables, eggs, cutting and cooking surfaces with a dilution of Thieves® Household Cleaner.

*Thieves® is a proprietary blend of therapeutic grade essential oils from Young Living. EO’s from bath shops and natural foods stores are often perfume grade and thus may not yield therapeutic results. Perfume grade oils have been rendered toxic by the distillation method, fillers, chemical extractants, etc. and may cause adverse reactions.

QUESTION ABOUT MRSA / PROTECTION

2007-12-09T17:39:00.019-05:00

I have been visiting my friend recovering in ICU from cancer colon. Unbeknownst to me he had MRSA. Yesterday I was told about this after seeing him on Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday I had Frankincense on my hands while holding his hand. Thursday I put RC and Thieves on me and actually kind-of spilled Thieves on my hands after getting in car while leaving hospital, I did not touch him on Thursday.

This completely grosses me out and scares me. I am trying to not think about it but today I am so tired. I have a scratch on my face that I have been using Animal Scents on. My face did not touch him. I have been inhaling and drinking Thieves. I have no weird skin bumps but I am unusually tired today. How does MRSA travel, etc? I googled MRSA but am looking for the real scoop.

Thank you,
Vallea

RESPONSE FROM E. JOAN BARICE, MD
Mon Sep 24, 2007 5:25 am (PST)

Dear Vallea,

Had to respond to your question about MRSA. It's a good question.

There are superbugs all over and the problem continues to increase. MRSA is one of the superbugs. These days, according to the World Health Organization, a new superbug is appearing every year now. Now we are worried about H5N1 avian influenza and drug resistant TB.

So the best thing to do is take good care of your own health so you are not susceptible to getting these infections. The most important things you can do are keep your immune system strong with a healthy lifestyle -good nutrition, lots of good water, good fresh air, enough rest, exercise, sunshine, moderation in everything, and I believe, trust in God. Good hygiene including washing your hands is important. Washing hands should be not just rinsing them under water - you need to wash well, with soap, including under the nails, at least for 30 seconds. YL melaleuca geranium soap would be good to bathe with. I would keep a bottle of the new Thieves waterless hand purifier with me at all times.

Research shows MRSA and other bacteria and viruses can be cultured not just from the infected patient, but also from doorknobs, elevator buttons, bedclothes, doctors ties, stethoscopes, sinks including the knobs you use to turn off the water after you've washed your hands (use a paper towel to turn off the water), even on the walls in rooms including OR's.

MRSA started in hospitals especially with people who were more susceptible to infections due to weakened immune systems, but has spread because of indiscriminate overuse of antibiotics, antibacterial soaps and cleaners, and with inadequate infection control precautions. Mostly unwashed hands. Some people can carry an infection around in their nose without having any symptoms. Now there are epidemics in prisons, football teams and so on. Since antibiotics don't work it just keeps causing problems.

Fortunately essential oils have been shown to have activity against MRSA in lab research and in a number of clinical cases. Many oils or combinations of oils may work, among them tea tree, clove, mt savory, lemon, oregano, thyme, eucalyptus radiata, even lavender and more. Thieves should be good. I have used combinations of oils topically or internally depending on the individual circumstances when asked to see someone who has failed all the standard treatment. Or when someone has refused antibiotics.

We need to spread the word about the research evidence that is already available and do more high quality research so that use of essential oils for treatment of drug-resistant infections is accepted by doctors, and so that people who have these infections can be treated with essential oils early on. Anyway, the best defense is a good offense. Stay healthy.

Best wishes,
E. Joan Barice, MD, MPH
http://benaturallyhealthy.blogspot.com/
561-707-1107

Essential Oils Could Stamp Out Spread of MRSA

2007-12-09T17:01:00.003-05:00

(21 Dec, 2004)

Essential oils usually used in aromatherapy have been found to kill the deadly MRSA bacteria according to research carried out at The University of Manchester.Tests revealed that three essential oils killed MRSA and E. coli as well as many other bacteria and fungi within just two minutes of contact. The oils can easily be blended and made into soaps and shampoos which could be used by hospital staff, doctors and patients in a bid to eradicate the spread of these deadly `super bugs'.

Researchers are now desperately looking for funding to develop their work and carry out a clinical trial. Peter Warn from the University's Faculty of Medicine who worked on the research said: 'We believe that our discovery could revolutionise the fight to combat MRSA and other `super bugs', but we need to carry out a trial and to do that we need a small amount of funding ' around £30,000.'

We are having problems finding this funding because essential oils cannot be patented as they are naturally occurring, so few drug companies are interested in our work as they do not see it as commercially viable. Obviously, we find this very frustrating as we believe our findings could help to stamp out MRSA and save lives,' added Peter, who is based at Hope Hospital.

Essential oils are chemical compounds found within aromatic plants, which the plants use to fight off infections. Researchers tested 40 essential oils against ten of the most deadly bacteria and fungi. Two of these oils killed MRSA and E. coli almost instantly, while a third was shown to act over a longer period of time, meaning that any soaps or shampoos made by blending these three oils would be effective over a period of time.

Jacqui Stringer who is Clinical Lead of Complementary Therapies at the Christie Hospital instigated the research and said: 'The use of plants in medicine is nothing new but some people regard the use of essential oils as unconventional. Our research shows a very practical application which could be of enormous benefit to the NHS and its patients.'The reason essential oils are so effective is because they are made up of a complex mixture of chemical compounds which the MRSA and other super bug bacteria finds difficult to resist.

The problem with current treatments is that they are made of single compounds which MRSA relatively quickly becomes resistant to, so treatment is only successful in around 50% of cases.'

While a wide range of products currently exist to help prevent the spread of MRSA these are often unpleasant for patients as their application can cause skin irritation. MRSA is often carried inside the nose which means that patients often have to insert treatments up their nostrils, whereas these essential oils can simply be inhaled to prevent the patient being at risk,' added Jacqui.

Jacqui works with leukaemia patients at the Christie Hospital using essential oils to help in their treatment. Patients receiving treatment for cancer and leukaemia are often left with weakened immune systems which makes them vulnerable to infection from MRSA.

The National Audit Office estimates that infections such as MRSA kill 5,000 people each year and hospital-acquired infections cost the NHS around £1 billion a year.

http://www.manchester.ac.uk/press/newsarchive/title,8376,en.htm