You are looking at Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and according to today’s study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, deaths associated with these infections may exceed those caused by AIDS.
In the past this bacteria often produced mild skin infections easily treated with penicillin. But because antibiotics have become over-prescribed for every little thing and its hangnail, the new aggressive flesh-eating blood-poisoning strain of MRSA often doesn’t respond to such treatment.
And now these infections aren’t just centralized in hospitals, but are spreading throughout gym locker rooms and prisons and nursing homes and daycare facilities—especially in poor urban areas.
Why? Because healthy people are often the carriers of this bacteria. On their skin. Or. In. Their. Noses.
Right. This Public Service Announcement brought to you by Forget It Bossy Is Putting Herself Promptly To Bed.
Nilsa S. says
October 17, 2007 at 8:45 amEiwwwwwwwwwww. Yet another reason to carry Lysol wherever I go. You can never prescribe too much Lysol.
Avitable says
October 17, 2007 at 8:48 amSo I shouldn’t forage in anyone else’s nose without proper safety precautions?
Heather says
October 17, 2007 at 9:03 amSee, this is why when I tell a ped or doc I’d rather NOT have the antibiotic unless it is absolutely necessary, they fall down on their knees, kiss my feet and call me Queen.
chocolatechic says
October 17, 2007 at 9:03 amThanks. Pass the bottle.
I don’t use antibacterial soaps or other stuff. I, personally, think that by overprotecting ourselves from all germs make us super susceptible to every germ.
Having said that, I do carry Lysol wipes in my purse to wipe down the grocery carts. That is about the only thing that I will antibacterial.
Moi says
October 17, 2007 at 9:19 amI avoid the antibiotics, too. And luckily, I have found a pediatrician who feels the same way.
But I totally wipe down the grocery cart.
Teryn says
October 17, 2007 at 9:20 amSee, I knew I had a really good reason for never leaving the house.
Gloria says
October 17, 2007 at 9:46 amThank you. I will refrain from getting out of the house and having people in the house. I won’t sleep tonight.
All Adither says
October 17, 2007 at 9:47 amBut the gin will kill it, right? Right?
The Domestic Goddess says
October 17, 2007 at 9:52 amEw.
Mom101 says
October 17, 2007 at 9:58 amI am finally vindicated for never washing the pacifiers.
Hilary says
October 17, 2007 at 10:07 amThe use of Lysol-type products and anti-bacterial soaps probably contribute to the problem just like over-prescribed antibiotics. I’m guessing this isn’t the first bacteria that has evolved because of our desire for a spotless environment, it’s just the first one to really catch our attention. Normal soap and hot water cleans hands well after grocery shopping. Vodka cleanses the inside. 😉
OMSH says
October 17, 2007 at 10:19 amToday I officially stop eating my boogers.
JessicaB says
October 17, 2007 at 10:20 amOkay. That totally scares the sh*t out of me. I may become a compulsive germaphobe now.
Kristin says
October 17, 2007 at 10:36 amMRSA is pretty scarry, my son had a pimple like spot appear on his waistline last August. I didn’t think anything of it. He went out of town with my husband, came back two days later with fever, vomiting, more red bumps. Turns out it was staph and the MRSA staph. And apparently staph likes to grow in cool, dark, damp areas. Since it was summer and he wore diapers, I think this might have helped it grow on his waistline. LUCKILY his was treatable by antibiotics. It took 4 weeks for it to completely heal and that was 4 weeks that he was unable to go to school, which meant 4 weeks of my husband and I taking off work. It was hell. Moral of the story, wash your hands, and make hand sanitizer your new best friend!
Miss Britt says
October 17, 2007 at 10:45 amand the cure is WHAT, exactly?
because I would like to leave my house sometime soon
and now I am scared
andrea_frets says
October 17, 2007 at 10:52 amIt’s time to invest in that plastic bubble I’ve always wanted.
joeinvegas says
October 17, 2007 at 11:10 amOh, sorry Bossy, guess that means . . oh, never mind, the thought wasn’t that clever anyway.
Howard says
October 17, 2007 at 11:23 am“Nobody move or I’ll sneeze all over you!”
BTW, Lysol and anti-bacterial soaps are just adding to the problem since the bacteria is evolving to survive.
Oh, wait, there is no such thing as evolution, so spray all you want.
sue says
October 17, 2007 at 11:24 amBack when my kids were in grade school, I mentioned to the principal a study that showed children whose school day included several scheduled handwashing sessions (at the beginning of the day, before lunch, after recess and before going home) were less likely to catch colds and infections. She just looked at me and smiled politely. Fortunately, my kids are all grown up and I no longer have to beat my head against that particular wall, but if I could just say this one more time to anyone who will listen: HANDWASHING IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT MEANS OF PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF INFECTION. Thank you.
Mike says
October 17, 2007 at 11:43 amWe just need to develop some new super penicillin to fight those evil commie super germs. And maybe some kind of space station that will blast them from geosynchronous orbit.
Marie says
October 17, 2007 at 11:45 amMaybe if we accelerate global warming all the extra radiation or what-have-you will zap it.
Cece says
October 17, 2007 at 11:47 amThankfully I’m not in contact with people who are in gym locker rooms, nursing homes, prisions or day cares. But just in case I’ll be searching for bubbles to put my family in.
stella says
October 17, 2007 at 12:18 pmhave you nothing to say about COLBERT FOR PRESIDENT???
oh the joys. i am happy today.
except for the fact that i turned over every shred of confidential banking/personal info over to a FRAUDULENT EMAIL claiming to be FUCKING PAYPAL.
clearly i have been out of the loop on this whole scam. perhaps this became all the rage when we were out of the country?
ARGH.
maybe its time to move to south carolina.
Meg says
October 17, 2007 at 12:47 pmThere are lots of things (excuses?) that make me wanna drink gin from the cat’s bowl… but now I’m wondering if the cat might too be a carrier of this scourge. Prudence would suggest it might be safer to drink the gin straight out of its lovely sapphire-blue bottle… or in a glass with ice, a twist of lime and a splash of Schweppes tonic.
Laurie Foolery says
October 17, 2007 at 12:54 pmHow I plan to deal with this new information:
1. Stay out of gym locker rooms, prisons, nursing homes and daycare facilities. Well, maybe not prisons.
2. Drink more gin. The cats will just have to deal.
3. Avoid those scary super germ-promoting antibacterial wipes, and just keep wiping my nose on grocery carts.
Thank you, bossy, for the heads up.
soNOTcool says
October 17, 2007 at 1:19 pmI am plugging my ears and singing “la la la la la”. I don’t want to know, I don’t want to know.
😉
Meghan says
October 17, 2007 at 1:21 pmSo, I shouldn’t let my child lick the walls of public restrooms?
(I second “ew”.)
Noelle says
October 17, 2007 at 1:32 pmLooks like I picked the wrong week to stop being a Christian Scientist. You never hear about bugs that develop a prayer-resistant strain! Pretty soon, that’s all we’ll have left…
jones says
October 17, 2007 at 2:07 pmhey bossy… what happened to dooce???
Humor Girl says
October 17, 2007 at 2:14 pmI GOT THAT ONCE!!!! I’m really allergic to Mary Kay and I got Impetigo on my face!!!!! It took about 2 months to go away! And it spread like wildfire!
Gross! (I CAN’T STOP USING EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!)
madmad says
October 17, 2007 at 2:23 pmOK. Between trying not to buy things from China, not using hazardous chemicals to clean my home, and worrying about the whole paper/plastic thing, I just don’t have room for this in my head, too. But, OH, lookie! It squeezed itself in. Thanks!
meleah rebeccah says
October 17, 2007 at 2:55 pmI am moving into a bubble. Now pass that cat bowl full of gin over here!
annie says
October 17, 2007 at 3:08 pmThis is EXACTLY why I stay out of prisons. And people’s noses.
Mary Alice says
October 17, 2007 at 3:22 pmI think the real way to solve this problem is to stop being so scared of germs, stop using anti-bacterial everything that actually aids in creating super bugs…and well, eat more boogers…this will build up your resistance.
Mr Farty says
October 17, 2007 at 3:22 pmOne of our hospital trusts has just introduced a policy where staff must clock in and out by pressing their palm against a scanner. Of *course* that won’t spread infection!
sassy says
October 17, 2007 at 3:46 pmI’msuddenly feeling quite itchy.
Sparx says
October 17, 2007 at 4:50 pmAha, so THAT’s what that creeping carpet is on the back of my throat…
Jen M says
October 17, 2007 at 5:52 pmI’m building my bubble. TODAY.
Les~ says
October 17, 2007 at 5:53 pmEwww ewww ewwww….
I use the anti-bac wipes they supply at the grocery store.
Ya just never know!
Neil says
October 17, 2007 at 6:01 pmJeez, this post made me not want to touch my own keyboard without gloves on.
witchypoo says
October 17, 2007 at 6:13 pmHandwashing, most certainly.
It helps to keep your immune system in good shape with good diet, exercise, and SLEEP!
ScottsdaleGirl says
October 17, 2007 at 6:15 pmWoo if that doesn’t make someone stop picking their nose i don’t know what will.
saviabella says
October 17, 2007 at 7:48 pmBut it looks so cute in plush form: http://www.giantmicrobes.com/us/products/flesheating.html
flutter says
October 17, 2007 at 8:36 pmcan I live in a bubble, please?
RuthWells says
October 17, 2007 at 9:02 pmIs it okay if I make mine vodka from the dog’s bowl?
mcewen says
October 17, 2007 at 10:20 pmRife in Britain! How are the eyes?
Cheers
Alex Elliot says
October 17, 2007 at 11:22 pmForget gym locker rooms, what about the weight room?! I don’t think anything is ever clean in there. I’m actually surprised that the Y I belong to wasn’t specifically mentioned in the study.
aka says
October 18, 2007 at 12:29 amI knew I was avoiding exercise and childbirth for a good reason. Now if I can just contain my homicidal tendencies and cease aging immediately I should be golden!
Seriously, I had to go to a hospital today for a totally non-medical work-related reason right after listening to a story on NPR about how only 47% of hospital staff wash their hands regularly. So yeah, I was the weird chick opening doors with my hip/elbow/buttcheek, shaking hands reluctantly and then desperately inquiring where perhaps might I find the grossly-underused handwashing sink and/or sanitizing gel dispenser.
Gaaahhh!
tongue in cheek says
October 18, 2007 at 1:38 amLAughter is a good medicine and laugh I did at the cat bowl cocktail.
You are sickedly funny Bossy Girl!
tongue in cheek says
October 18, 2007 at 1:40 amHonestly DR Freud I meant WICKEDLY not sick o ly….
The cat bowl cocktail really delievers a punch.
William says
October 18, 2007 at 8:03 amGin gives me a bad hangover.
Velvet Verbosity says
October 18, 2007 at 1:39 pmBossy, you need to give WARNINGS on posts like this. Us hypochondriacs don’t need to know such information. We don’t want to know about super germs morphing into ever-stronger little beasts carrying lethal weapons!
(excuse me a sec, I’m hyperventilating)
Hoo boy. I think I’m going to need a lot more than gin to get over this one.
Emily says
October 18, 2007 at 2:22 pmBetter the cat bowl than a clear plastic bottle.
motherofbun says
October 18, 2007 at 3:29 pmAnd my hubby thinks I’m paranoid for wanting to put the boy in a bubble.
motherofbun says
October 18, 2007 at 3:30 pmAnd my hubby thinks I’m paranoid for wanting to put the boy in a bubble.
lori says
October 18, 2007 at 9:32 pmI work at a vet clinic and we are currently trying to treat a dog with MRSA. Unfortunately, the dog’s entire human family has it now and are having to find some sort of treatment.
David says
October 19, 2007 at 8:30 amI will never give up the gym. They will have to carry my staph-riddled body out on a stretcher.
Nin says
October 19, 2007 at 12:12 pmmy aunt died from that, it was the saddest moment of my life 🙁
Oh, The Joys says
October 19, 2007 at 12:20 pmBetween this and there only being 90 days of water supply left in my town I think THE END IS NEAR.
I am seriously freaked out, actually.
Jenny from Mommin' It Up! says
October 20, 2007 at 4:42 pmGROSS. SO now I am confused. Are my kids better off dirty or clean?
Andi says
October 22, 2007 at 12:17 amI totally had this- but they stuck a fifteen foot long q tip up my nose to see if I was a carrier- I wasn’t. Nice to know it wasn’t MY boogers… gross to think it was someone elses.
gwendomama says
October 22, 2007 at 7:16 pmmy cousin just died from this, in pneumonia form. she left two children behind. this is really bad stuff.
and bossy, why did google do this to me?
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