Hawaii's homeless vulnerable to new, 'epidemic' bacteria strain
Posted: March 11, 2009 09:23 PM
Updated: March 12, 2009 01:14 PM
| ||||||||
 | ||||||||
| Mike Brewer | ||||||||
 | ||||||||
 | ||||||||
| Dr. Alan Tice | ||||||||
 | ||||||||
 | ||||||||
| ||||||||
 | ||||||||
| ||||||||
 | ||||||||
| ||||||||
| ||||||||
| | ||||||||
| ||||||||
NANAKULI (KHNL) - Hawaii leads the nation in hospital admissions for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, a deadly bacteria infection resistant to antibiotics. Now, a new, more powerful strain is hitting our most vulnerable population and doctors say this could become Hawaii's silent epidemic.
Mike Brewer loves living in Makakilo. He's called this beach home for the past two years. While he enjoys his freedom, he has to take care of his stuff.
"Things I do value, I got to take with me," said Brewer, who is originally from San Francisco, California. "I cannot really trust people because they'll go through my stuff like it's a rummage sale."
Life can be tough when you don't have a roof over your head and have to rely on Mother Nature.
But beyond that, there are major health concerns. Unsanitary conditions and lack of access to regular hygiene leave the homeless population vulnerable to serious infections.
Recently, Brewer was bit by a bug, and got MRSA, the potentially deadly bacteria strain resistant to antibiotics.
"It cost me six weeks in the hospital," he said. "I had to have this real heavy duty antibiotic that I had to stay on to get the infection out of me."
Brewer's not alone. Hawaii leads the country in MRSA infections, and it's impacting our homeless population at an alarming rate.
"And what we found is that a surprising number of homeless people with wounds of any sort recovered Staphylococcus aureus," said Dr. Alan Tice, an infectious diseases specialist with the John A. Burns School of Medicine.
Seventy-two percent had staph infections and about 80 percent of those had a new, even stronger epidemic strain called USA 300, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
"About 19,000 Americans die each year from MRSA infections, which is more than the number of people that die of AIDS," said Dr. Tice.
MRSA is a global problem and doctors from all over the world are on Oahu to talk about how to fight it. Until they find a way, people like Brewer try to minimize their risk.
"Watch out when I do get cuts and what I pick up and stuff like that," he said. "But you're bound to get accidents so it's just life you have to deal with and cope with."
And it's not just the homeless. MRSA can be easily transmitted from person to person, so if you have a bite or an open wound, you could be vulnerable. The MRSA Symposium is going on Wednesday until Saturday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. For more information, go here or click the "MRSA Symposium" link on this page.
| Comments Terms of Use: We welcome your participation in our community. Please keep your comments civil and on point. Notify us of any inappropriate comments by clicking the "Mark as Offensive" link. You must be at least 13 years of age to post comments. By submitting a comment, you agree to these Terms of Service drmsulliv Saturday, March 14, 2009 But there is a new weapon in the fight against MRSA. The revolutionary Microcyn® Technology (www.oculusis.com/us/technology) is a safe-as-saline anti-infective that quickly eradicates a broad range of pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria (including MRSA and VRE), viruses, fungi and spores. Dual-action in nature, in addition to killing the infection, the Microcyn also accelerates the wound-healing process by reducing inflammation in the wound and increasing nutrient-rich blood and oxygen flow to the wound bed. Twenty-five clinical studies have demonstrated Microcyn to be both safe and effective in killing pathogens. There's an excellent doctor discussion of this new technology at YouTube: http://www..youtube.com/watch?v=sAiWWNCfYH4 Kuhio Kane Wednesday, March 11, 2009 We need to get the word out!!! Your recent clip in MRSA (3/11) says it all. Residents in Nanakuli and the Leeward side are, in particular due to the circumstances endemic to the area, especially susceptable to harmful MRSA infection. I have it from teaching staff at Naniakapono Elementary School in Nanakuli, a title I school with students who meet the high risk profiled in your article (homeless) DOES NOT HAVE SOAP IN THEIR BATHROOMS!!! Washing of hands after toilet use is indicated strongly by our medical community to greatly reduce the spread of MRSA, Teaching staff have said that the soap was removed as students vandalized the bathrooms with soap when it was offered in the restrooms. I'm sorry, but that is not a good enough reason to leave our keiki and school staff at risk of serious infection. Teaching staff have mentioned that the janitorial staff, because of their strong union, have made it clear that they are not required to oversee student restroom use as per contract. That the Teachers had such a strong union!!! Regardless, this is an issue that needs fixing asap. With such a serious threat in their own backyard, the lack, the crass carelessness of proper sanitation efforts in such high vector areas as restrooms is incredulous at least, and possibly criminal in terms of knowing neglect. |
Education for Liberation! Join Up!
Peter S. Lopez aka: Peta
Email: peter.lopez51@yahoo.com
http://groups.yahoo..com/group/Humane-Rights-Agenda/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/THIRD-WORLD-NEWS/
No comments:
Post a Comment