I've just created a new MRSA Staph blog here - so click on to see my latest posts.
Be well,
Michelle Moore
Microbiologist and Natural Health Advocate
www.staph-infection-resources.com
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Monday, October 12, 2009
What about Bleach for Killing MRSA?
Linda wrote in this last weekend wondering if swimming pools can kill MRSA, what about bleach ? Below is my response...
As I mentioned previously, well maintained pools can kill MRSA, but it will be much slower to kill these bacteria than disinfectants will. Again, pools aren't meant to act as a harsh disinfectant like the ones that are commonly used in the kitchen or bathroom.
Now, a bleach solution you use in your home is typically made as a 10% solution of bleach in water. This "roughly" correlates to a .1% chlorine solution as compared to 3.9ppm (parts per million) chlorine as one would expect in a properly maintained pool. This makes a 10% solution of bleach you use for disinfecting MUCH MUCH more concentrated than any swimming pool. Thus, it will kill MRSA and Staph and other bacteria much more quickly.
However, something to be aware of is that chemical disinfectants like bleach (which contain chemical toxins) can have a negative effect on our immune systems. There are actually non-toxic cleaners and disinfectants that kill MRSA and other bacteria, but are safe to use around yourself, your children and your pets.
Another often critically overlooked issue when it comes to MRSA and Staph infections is that we come in contact with these bacteria EVERYWHERE. Not just the hospital. Not just the gym. They are everywhere. Many people carry MRSA bacteria and don't have symptoms. These bacteria get spread on doorknobs, shopping cart handles, cell phones, toys, etc and even through the air on dead skin cells. Anything that gets touched by people can very likely have MRSA.
I'm not spreading this to be alarmist, but these are the facts I know as a Microbiologist. Ultimately, one of your best defenses against these infections is your immune system. This is largely overlooked by medicine as a way to help prevent infection. What you eat, what you disinfect with, what you don't eat, your stress level and more can affect your immune system.
I have written about this key factor, as well as the many natural and effective antibiotics that are available for MRSA and Staph in my comprehensive manual MRSA Secrets Revealed. This manual addresses prevention, non-toxic cleaning, powerful natural treatment options, and steps to take that have helped people boost their immune system. You can more learn about this trusted and respected manual at www.staph-infection-resources.com .
Be well,
Michelle
As I mentioned previously, well maintained pools can kill MRSA, but it will be much slower to kill these bacteria than disinfectants will. Again, pools aren't meant to act as a harsh disinfectant like the ones that are commonly used in the kitchen or bathroom.
Now, a bleach solution you use in your home is typically made as a 10% solution of bleach in water. This "roughly" correlates to a .1% chlorine solution as compared to 3.9ppm (parts per million) chlorine as one would expect in a properly maintained pool. This makes a 10% solution of bleach you use for disinfecting MUCH MUCH more concentrated than any swimming pool. Thus, it will kill MRSA and Staph and other bacteria much more quickly.
However, something to be aware of is that chemical disinfectants like bleach (which contain chemical toxins) can have a negative effect on our immune systems. There are actually non-toxic cleaners and disinfectants that kill MRSA and other bacteria, but are safe to use around yourself, your children and your pets.
Another often critically overlooked issue when it comes to MRSA and Staph infections is that we come in contact with these bacteria EVERYWHERE. Not just the hospital. Not just the gym. They are everywhere. Many people carry MRSA bacteria and don't have symptoms. These bacteria get spread on doorknobs, shopping cart handles, cell phones, toys, etc and even through the air on dead skin cells. Anything that gets touched by people can very likely have MRSA.
I'm not spreading this to be alarmist, but these are the facts I know as a Microbiologist. Ultimately, one of your best defenses against these infections is your immune system. This is largely overlooked by medicine as a way to help prevent infection. What you eat, what you disinfect with, what you don't eat, your stress level and more can affect your immune system.
I have written about this key factor, as well as the many natural and effective antibiotics that are available for MRSA and Staph in my comprehensive manual MRSA Secrets Revealed. This manual addresses prevention, non-toxic cleaning, powerful natural treatment options, and steps to take that have helped people boost their immune system. You can more learn about this trusted and respected manual at www.staph-infection-resources.com .
Be well,
Michelle
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Will Swimming Pools Kill MRSA?
These are common questions I get fairly often.
Can I transmit MRSA to someone else in a swimming pool?
Can I get MRSA from a swimming pool?
Amazingly, I just heard from someone who has MRSA and apparently their doctor advised them to go into a swimming pool as the doctor said the pool will kill the MRSA on their body.
Is this good advice? Or not? Well, first of all, I'm not a doctor but I can share with you my research on this matter as well as my experience as a Microbiologist.
According to a recent study, swimming pools will kill MRSA and Staph bacteria in the water IF they are properly maintained. Now, let me break this down into some very important points.
First of all, it's generally advised to avoid using pools, spas, or whirlpools if you have open wounds. Most swimming pools have adopted policy's that do not allow people to enter the water with open wounds. You may have seen this policy at your local pool. This policy is used because there is a chance of transmitting bacteria to other people in improperly disinfected water. Therefore, if you have an active infection, I think it's wise to stay out of the water. You don't want to chance giving your infection to someone else and you don't want your open wound to become infected with more bacteria.
Secondly, yes, chlorine will kill MRSA and Staph at proper swimming pool or spa concentrations, but not all pools and spas are maintained at the proper levels of chlorine. There are many factors that come into play with maintaining proper levels of chlorine. And, there have been many instances, particularly with sporting teams where MRSA has been isolated from improperly maintained spas. And these improperly maintained spas have been implicated in transmitting MRSA from player to player (Kazakova et al. 2005). See below for CDC's guidelines on how to determine if your pool or spa is being properly maintained.
Thirdly, as a Microbiologist I know that swimming pools will not kill all of the bacteria on your skin. Swimming pools and spas have disinfectants like chlorine in them to disinfect the water. These levels are not high enough to kill all the bacteria on your body, nor should they be. It would be quite chemically-toxic to enter. Sure, some bacteria will probably die from your skin, but not all of them. And, as I've said before, it's important to remember that many of the bacteria living on your skin are there to protect you from "bad" bacteria. And, bacteria have many defenses including the formation of biofilms. Biofilms are like houses over the bacteria that help protect them from disinfectants and other threats.
In summary, swimming pools or spas will not cleanse your body of MRSA, Staph or any other bacterial skin infection. Chlorine in the pool is meant to reduce or eliminate free-floating bacteria and parasites that come off of people into the water, making the pool a safer environment for all. When pools and spas are maintained appropriately, they will kill MRSA and Staph bacteria in the water fairly quickly making it fairly unlikely for anyone to get MRSA from a pool (see article Tolba, O., et al. below). However, improperly maintained pools or spas have had MRSA isolated from them and they are suspect in transmitting MRSA from person to person.
Here's a neat little chart from the CDC with chlorine disinfection times for some common pool germs: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/chlorine_timetable.htm
The CDC has posted some great information about swimming pool and spa "health" and how you can better determine how well swimming pools and spas are maintained. You can learn more from the CDC about healthy swimming here: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/
Be well,
Michelle Moore
Microbiologist, Staph Researcher and Natural Health Advocate
Natural MRSA Treatment Options
References:
Tolba, O., et al., Survival of epidemic strains of healthcare (HA-MRSA) and community-associated (CA-MRSA) meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in river-, sea- and swimming pool water Int. J. Hyg. Environ. Health (2007), doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2007.06.003 http://www.mrsa-net.nl/nl/files/file-bron-ant-10191-0-Tolba.pdf
Centers for Disease Control, Healthy Swimming: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/
Kazakova, S.V., Hageman, J.C., Matava, M., Srinivasan, A., Phelan, L., Garfinkel, B., Boo, T., McAllister, S., Anderson, J., Jensen, B., Dodson, D., Lonsway, D., McDougal, L.K., Arduino, M., Fraser, V.J., Killgore, G., Tenover, F.C., Cody, S., Jernigan, D.B., 2005. A clone of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus among professional football players. N. Engl. J. Med. 352, 468–475
Can I transmit MRSA to someone else in a swimming pool?
Can I get MRSA from a swimming pool?
Amazingly, I just heard from someone who has MRSA and apparently their doctor advised them to go into a swimming pool as the doctor said the pool will kill the MRSA on their body.
Is this good advice? Or not? Well, first of all, I'm not a doctor but I can share with you my research on this matter as well as my experience as a Microbiologist.
According to a recent study, swimming pools will kill MRSA and Staph bacteria in the water IF they are properly maintained. Now, let me break this down into some very important points.
First of all, it's generally advised to avoid using pools, spas, or whirlpools if you have open wounds. Most swimming pools have adopted policy's that do not allow people to enter the water with open wounds. You may have seen this policy at your local pool. This policy is used because there is a chance of transmitting bacteria to other people in improperly disinfected water. Therefore, if you have an active infection, I think it's wise to stay out of the water. You don't want to chance giving your infection to someone else and you don't want your open wound to become infected with more bacteria.
Secondly, yes, chlorine will kill MRSA and Staph at proper swimming pool or spa concentrations, but not all pools and spas are maintained at the proper levels of chlorine. There are many factors that come into play with maintaining proper levels of chlorine. And, there have been many instances, particularly with sporting teams where MRSA has been isolated from improperly maintained spas. And these improperly maintained spas have been implicated in transmitting MRSA from player to player (Kazakova et al. 2005). See below for CDC's guidelines on how to determine if your pool or spa is being properly maintained.
Thirdly, as a Microbiologist I know that swimming pools will not kill all of the bacteria on your skin. Swimming pools and spas have disinfectants like chlorine in them to disinfect the water. These levels are not high enough to kill all the bacteria on your body, nor should they be. It would be quite chemically-toxic to enter. Sure, some bacteria will probably die from your skin, but not all of them. And, as I've said before, it's important to remember that many of the bacteria living on your skin are there to protect you from "bad" bacteria. And, bacteria have many defenses including the formation of biofilms. Biofilms are like houses over the bacteria that help protect them from disinfectants and other threats.
In summary, swimming pools or spas will not cleanse your body of MRSA, Staph or any other bacterial skin infection. Chlorine in the pool is meant to reduce or eliminate free-floating bacteria and parasites that come off of people into the water, making the pool a safer environment for all. When pools and spas are maintained appropriately, they will kill MRSA and Staph bacteria in the water fairly quickly making it fairly unlikely for anyone to get MRSA from a pool (see article Tolba, O., et al. below). However, improperly maintained pools or spas have had MRSA isolated from them and they are suspect in transmitting MRSA from person to person.
Here's a neat little chart from the CDC with chlorine disinfection times for some common pool germs: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/chlorine_timetable.htm
The CDC has posted some great information about swimming pool and spa "health" and how you can better determine how well swimming pools and spas are maintained. You can learn more from the CDC about healthy swimming here: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/
Be well,
Michelle Moore
Microbiologist, Staph Researcher and Natural Health Advocate
Natural MRSA Treatment Options
References:
Tolba, O., et al., Survival of epidemic strains of healthcare (HA-MRSA) and community-associated (CA-MRSA) meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in river-, sea- and swimming pool water Int. J. Hyg. Environ. Health (2007), doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2007.06.003 http://www.mrsa-net.nl/nl/files/file-bron-ant-10191-0-Tolba.pdf
Centers for Disease Control, Healthy Swimming: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/
Kazakova, S.V., Hageman, J.C., Matava, M., Srinivasan, A., Phelan, L., Garfinkel, B., Boo, T., McAllister, S., Anderson, J., Jensen, B., Dodson, D., Lonsway, D., McDougal, L.K., Arduino, M., Fraser, V.J., Killgore, G., Tenover, F.C., Cody, S., Jernigan, D.B., 2005. A clone of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus among professional football players. N. Engl. J. Med. 352, 468–475
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Why Most MRSA Treatments Eventually Fail
More than 50% of people with MRSA suffer from recurring infections. No matter what MRSA treatment approach you use or how effective your MRSA treatment may be, stopping your current infection has little bearing on stopping the recurring infection cycle.
Surprisingly, many common MRSA treatment approaches actually promote recurring infections. Throughout all of my research, education and personal experience, I've found there are 3 steps you must take to end your MRSA infection for good. Read on to learn what the 3 steps are.
Click on the blue link to read my full article on 3 simple steps for successful MRSA treatment.
Be well,
Michelle
Microbiologist, Author and Researcher
Surprisingly, many common MRSA treatment approaches actually promote recurring infections. Throughout all of my research, education and personal experience, I've found there are 3 steps you must take to end your MRSA infection for good. Read on to learn what the 3 steps are.
Click on the blue link to read my full article on 3 simple steps for successful MRSA treatment.
Be well,
Michelle
Microbiologist, Author and Researcher
Monday, August 3, 2009
Join Michelle On Squidoo!
Hi Everyone,
Can you believe I'm finally joining the age of "Social Networks". Yippe!
Now you can see one of my recent posts on an article I've written recently. My article is "Why Most MRSA Treatment Approaches Eventually Fail". This is true for antibiotics and natural antibiotic choices.
You can see my Squidoo article on this by clicking below:
http://www.squidoo.com/Why-Most-MRSA-Treatment-Approaches-Eventually-Fail
Be well,
Michelle
Can you believe I'm finally joining the age of "Social Networks". Yippe!
Now you can see one of my recent posts on an article I've written recently. My article is "Why Most MRSA Treatment Approaches Eventually Fail". This is true for antibiotics and natural antibiotic choices.
You can see my Squidoo article on this by clicking below:
http://www.squidoo.com/Why-Most-MRSA-Treatment-Approaches-Eventually-Fail
Be well,
Michelle
Monday, April 27, 2009
Oprah and Dr Oz Air Show on Superbugs and MRSA
Super bugs, flesh eating bacteria, Staph, MRSA, C. diff, Tuberculosis, antibiotic resistant bacteria. These words have been flying around the media lately, and they affect millions of people each year.
But what are they? What does it all mean? And what can you do to protect yourself and your family from these infectious bacteria?
Oprah and Dr. Oz Report
Oprah, with the help of Dr. Mehmet Oz M.D., recently aired a show solely devoted to help people understand more about the emergence of these Superbug infections. As Oprah and Dr. Oz discussed, superbugs have been seen in the news as "flesh eating bacteria" (also called necrotizing fasciitis), MRSA (short for the bacteria called Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus), C. diff (the bacteria Clostridium difficile) and "Staph" (short for the bacteria Staphylococcus).
Oprah also interviewed NBA all-star Grant Hill, who got MRSA in 2003.
Why are these Superbugs Growing?
As a Microbiologist, I'm all too familiar with rise of antibiotic resistance and the ever growing MRSA and Staph superbug epidemic. These superbug infections have unfortunately been largely created because of the overuse and abuse of antibiotics.
Ever been to your doctor with a head cold and they prescribed antibiotics? Antibiotics do not work for viral infections (like the cold and flu), but often doctors will prescribe them so we go home with medication and we "feel" better because we have a bottle of pills. Antibiotics are also misused, and abused by the livestock industry. These and many more factors have lead to this Super bug rise that is taking lives every day.
What Treatments work for Superbugs?
Because of the abuse of antibiotics, many of these bacteria have become resistant or immune to the effects of these antibiotics. There are even some superbugs that are immune to all antibiotics available right now. While some antibiotics still work for infections, people using antibiotics most often struggle with recurring infections they can't get rid of.
It is apparent that alternative solutions need to be found to protect ourselves and treat these infections. Even the CDC admits it's just a matter of time before antibiotics fail completely. Fortunately, there are many natural antimicrobials available that are very effective, and do not cause antimicrobial resistance. Many of these have been used safely by European doctors for decades. These plant and herb extracts are very safe and can be extremely effective against these superbug infections.
My new guidebook MRSA Secrets Revealed is the most comprehensive publication on prevention and treatment of MRSA and Staph infections available today. This resource is backed by months of research on what's been found to be effective for MRSA and Staph, and includes my knowledge and education as a Microbiologist and Scientific Researcher.
Learn more about it by clicking here: MRSA Secrets Revealed.
Be prepared and protect yourself and your family. Be armed with the knowledge, tools and resources available to you (many your doctor may not even know about) and you will have everything you need to prevent getting these superbug infections as well as how to stop recurring infections and regain your health.
Michelle Moore
Microbiologist, Scientist and Health Advocate
Author of "MRSA Secrets Revealed"
Click here for MRSA and Staph infection treatment solutions
But what are they? What does it all mean? And what can you do to protect yourself and your family from these infectious bacteria?
Oprah and Dr. Oz Report
Oprah, with the help of Dr. Mehmet Oz M.D., recently aired a show solely devoted to help people understand more about the emergence of these Superbug infections. As Oprah and Dr. Oz discussed, superbugs have been seen in the news as "flesh eating bacteria" (also called necrotizing fasciitis), MRSA (short for the bacteria called Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus), C. diff (the bacteria Clostridium difficile) and "Staph" (short for the bacteria Staphylococcus).
Oprah also interviewed NBA all-star Grant Hill, who got MRSA in 2003.
Why are these Superbugs Growing?
As a Microbiologist, I'm all too familiar with rise of antibiotic resistance and the ever growing MRSA and Staph superbug epidemic. These superbug infections have unfortunately been largely created because of the overuse and abuse of antibiotics.
Ever been to your doctor with a head cold and they prescribed antibiotics? Antibiotics do not work for viral infections (like the cold and flu), but often doctors will prescribe them so we go home with medication and we "feel" better because we have a bottle of pills. Antibiotics are also misused, and abused by the livestock industry. These and many more factors have lead to this Super bug rise that is taking lives every day.
What Treatments work for Superbugs?
Because of the abuse of antibiotics, many of these bacteria have become resistant or immune to the effects of these antibiotics. There are even some superbugs that are immune to all antibiotics available right now. While some antibiotics still work for infections, people using antibiotics most often struggle with recurring infections they can't get rid of.
The growing inability of mainstream medicine to successfully treat Staph and MRSA infections is a source frustration, disappointment, fear, and even despair for hundreds of thousands of people suffering from these potentially deadly infections. - Microbiologist and Staph Researcher Michelle Moore
It is apparent that alternative solutions need to be found to protect ourselves and treat these infections. Even the CDC admits it's just a matter of time before antibiotics fail completely. Fortunately, there are many natural antimicrobials available that are very effective, and do not cause antimicrobial resistance. Many of these have been used safely by European doctors for decades. These plant and herb extracts are very safe and can be extremely effective against these superbug infections.
My new guidebook MRSA Secrets Revealed is the most comprehensive publication on prevention and treatment of MRSA and Staph infections available today. This resource is backed by months of research on what's been found to be effective for MRSA and Staph, and includes my knowledge and education as a Microbiologist and Scientific Researcher.
Learn more about it by clicking here: MRSA Secrets Revealed.
Be prepared and protect yourself and your family. Be armed with the knowledge, tools and resources available to you (many your doctor may not even know about) and you will have everything you need to prevent getting these superbug infections as well as how to stop recurring infections and regain your health.
Michelle Moore
Microbiologist, Scientist and Health Advocate
Author of "MRSA Secrets Revealed"
Click here for MRSA and Staph infection treatment solutions
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Gram-negative bacteria are drug-resistant superbugs to watch out for - CNN.com
Unfortunately, MRSA is not the only Superbug infection today. Bacteria are very crafty and can become resistant to antibiotics relatively quickly. Staph bacteria were showing resistance to Penicillin (the first commercial antibiotic) within a couple of years of the introduction of Penicillin.
Today, with antibiotic abuse or over-prescription of antibiotics (for colds and flu which are not caused by bacteria), over-use of antibiotics in the feed animal industry, and hospitals and pharmaceutical companies dumping tons of unused or expired drugs and antibiotics into the water supply, it's no doubt that we will see ever-increasing numbers of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.
Gram-negative bacteria Superbugs are predominantly found in hospitals and can be and commonly infection patients who are already very ill, babies in ICU, very old patients, patients who've just had surgery, and burn patients in the ICU. And these gam-negative bacteria can enter the body by way of catheters, IVs, ventilators or wounds (like MRSA can).
It's plain to see that doctors are loosing ground when it comes to treating these Superbug with conventional antibiotics. For yourself and your family's sake, learn about ALL of the natural antimicrobial products that are available. I feel these will be required to survive the ever growing population of bacteria that will not respond to antibiotics.
Michelle Moore
Microbiologist, Scientist and Health Advocate
Author of "MRSA Secrets Revealed"
Click here for MRSA and Staph infection treatment solutions
For the full CNN article, click here: Gram-negative bacteria are drug-resistant superbugs to watch out for - CNN.com
Today, with antibiotic abuse or over-prescription of antibiotics (for colds and flu which are not caused by bacteria), over-use of antibiotics in the feed animal industry, and hospitals and pharmaceutical companies dumping tons of unused or expired drugs and antibiotics into the water supply, it's no doubt that we will see ever-increasing numbers of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.
Gram-negative bacteria Superbugs are predominantly found in hospitals and can be and commonly infection patients who are already very ill, babies in ICU, very old patients, patients who've just had surgery, and burn patients in the ICU. And these gam-negative bacteria can enter the body by way of catheters, IVs, ventilators or wounds (like MRSA can).
It's plain to see that doctors are loosing ground when it comes to treating these Superbug with conventional antibiotics. For yourself and your family's sake, learn about ALL of the natural antimicrobial products that are available. I feel these will be required to survive the ever growing population of bacteria that will not respond to antibiotics.
Michelle Moore
Microbiologist, Scientist and Health Advocate
Author of "MRSA Secrets Revealed"
Click here for MRSA and Staph infection treatment solutions
For the full CNN article, click here: Gram-negative bacteria are drug-resistant superbugs to watch out for - CNN.com
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