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| GERMS, INFECTIONS AND ANTIBIOTICS
A 3 part series Part1: “Superbugs” What are these “Superbugs” that are talked about in the news? “Superbug” is a term that had been coined by the media to describe germs that are resistant to the usual antibiotics. The germ that has gotten the most press recently is MRSA which stands for Methcillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. This germ has recently caused serious problems with skin related infections. There are other germs that have resistance to multiple antibiotics and can cause serious disease that is difficult to treat. Multi-drug resistant TB is another example. How do germs become resistant to antibiotics? When a germ is exposed to an antibiotic, it can “learn” how to become resistant to these antibiotics. Then, each daughter germ is also resistant. Since the resistant germs are more difficult to kill, they proliferate more easily than those that are “sensitive” to common antibiotics . These germs are often spread from person to person until a large part of an entire community is colonized by the "superbug". What kind of problems can these drug-resistant germs cause? Many germs are resistant to one or two antibiotics. The major problems arise when a germ is resistant to so many antibiotics that it is difficult to find an effective antibiotic to kill it. Drug resistant germs can cause any type of infection from pneumonia to meningitis to TB infection. Colonization with the "superbug" often goes unnoticed but once it causes an infectious disease, then the problem becomes more serious. What should I do if I get an infection? If you are concerned that you have an infection, you should see your doctor. You doctor may be able to diagnose and treat your problem based on your history and exam. Alternatively, your doctor may take samples of the infection to have it cultured and tested against various antibiotics to determine which antibiotic will be effective. Ask your doctor how quickly you should see an improvement. If you don't see improvement in the expected time frame, go back to your doctor, he or she may want to refer you to an infectious disease specialist. How contagious are these germs? Different germs are spread in different ways. The MRSA germ that causes skin infections is predominantly spread with direct contact. Other germs may be spread in respiratory droplets (coughs and sneezes), fomites (contaminated objects) or via sexual contact. What can I do to protect myself from becoming infected? Frequent hand washing is important in avoiding the spread of any infection. Again, for the MRSA skin infections that have been getting so much recent attention, you must also avoid sharing personal care products and be careful to clean and monitor any open wounds, cuts and scrapes and keep them covered with a bandage if possible. I don’t have an infection right now but should I be tested? We are all “colonized” with germs that we usually live in harmony with. These germs do not usually cause disease. For this reason, screening or testing for “superbugs” is not usually recommended. If you have special concerns in this regard, you should see your doctor. For example, if you or a family member is immunocompromised, you may need to be tested. If there is any additional question, your doctor may refer you to an Infectious Disease Specialist. |