One would expect that doctors, of all people, realize the importance of washing their hands to prevent the spread of disease. Based on the number of superbug cases in Southern California hospitals during the past year, they’ve gotten lazy. Unfortunately, this type of laziness can cost lives and it’s unacceptable! Doctors in the media are recommending that before a doctor ever touches you, you ask,
“When was the last time you washed your hands?” or even, “Would you please wash your hands first?” It may sound rude, but the alternative can be deadly. A little rudeness can save your life or that of your loved one.
The superbug that has been in the news this week is the antibiotic-resistant CRKP or carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Once thought to be rare, it is now showing up in Los Angeles county. There were over 350 cases reported between June and December of last year. Although the general population isn’t at risk of infection, those who are elderly and spending long periods of time in the hospital are more likely to contract the disease and can catch it through contagion with those who visit or care for them. Tests that can determine exactly which type of antibiotic-resistant virus a person has contracted are critical to fighting the infection. Because the viruses have mutated to defend against specific drugs, using the right one can mean life and death and stop the virus in time.
If you have a loved one in the hospital or are planning to be in one soon, get your lines ready for the doctors: Have they washed their hands? And have you washed yours?
Written by www.labtestingnow.com