| Study: One in four carry MRSA in nursing homes |
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| Friday, June 05, 2009 |
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1 in 4 Nursing Home Residents Carries MRSA
06/04/2009
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“We decided to carry out the study after noticing an apparent increase in recent years in the number of patients who had MRSA when they were admitted to hospital from nursing homes,” said Dr. Paddy Kearney, a consultant medical microbiologist with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. “In hospitals, routine checks are carried out to identify those most at risk of MRSA colonization (carrying it on their skin and/or nose) and infection control policies are put in place but this is not always feasible in private nursing homes.”
Dr. Michael Tunney, senior lecturer in clinical pharmacy, from Queen’s University’s School of Pharmacy, noted, “This is the first study which has reported prevalence of MRSA among staff in nursing homes in the UK and found that staff need to be more aware of the potential problem MRSA can be in this setting.”
Carmel Hughes, a director of research in the School of Pharmacy, added, “In order to combat this problem, two approaches could be considered: improved education and training of staff, and removing MRSA from people who are colonized with it, using suitable creams and washes. Further studies looking at these approaches need to be carried out.”
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1 in 4 Nursing Home Residents Carries MRSA
06/04/2009
|
“We decided to carry out the study after noticing an apparent increase in recent years in the number of patients who had MRSA when they were admitted to hospital from nursing homes,” said Dr. Paddy Kearney, a consultant medical microbiologist with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. “In hospitals, routine checks are carried out to identify those most at risk of MRSA colonization (carrying it on their skin and/or nose) and infection control policies are put in place but this is not always feasible in private nursing homes.”
Dr. Michael Tunney, senior lecturer in clinical pharmacy, from Queen’s University’s School of Pharmacy, noted, “This is the first study which has reported prevalence of MRSA among staff in nursing homes in the UK and found that staff need to be more aware of the potential problem MRSA can be in this setting.”
Carmel Hughes, a director of research in the School of Pharmacy, added, “In order to combat this problem, two approaches could be considered: improved education and training of staff, and removing MRSA from people who are colonized with it, using suitable creams and washes. Further studies looking at these approaches need to be carried out.”
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Copper can boost fight against swine flu
Copper is quite effective in inhibiting the influenza A H1N1 virus commonly known as Swine flu, according to the latest study.
Copper appears to have a broad spectrum in antiviral activity due to its effectiveness against RNA (Ribonucleic acid)-based influenza and DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)-based adenovirus 40/41, which causes gastrointestinal infections.
Bill Keevil, professor at the University of Southampton School of Biological Sciences, said that he believed copper could be used to reduce the spread of flu in public places.
"With the ongoing threat of contamination by influenza A virus, such as H1N1, there is a real and pressing need to utilise all appropriate and effective measures with proven antimicrobial qualities," said Keevil.
"It is recognised that many infectious diseases are contagious and studies have now shown that the use of copper as a surface material in key public places such as hospitals and food preparation areas offers the potential to substantially restrict and reduce the spread of harmful infections."
The influenza aspect of the study involved a series of experiments testing incubation of influenza A on copper and stainless steel surfaces.
Results showed that after incubation for one hour on copper, 75 percent of the virus was eradicated. Similar inactivation rates have now been observed for adenovirus 40/41.
The study has contributed further to the understanding of copper's antimicrobial qualities, which actively inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi and viruses, said a University of Southampton release.
These findings were presented at the BIT Life Sciences' Second Annual World Summit on Anti-virals in Beijing this week.
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