Hand-Washing Prevents Spread of Staph Superbug

Last year, in a small town in northern Arkansas, the talk of the town was the infected sores that some members of the football team were developing on their arms and legs. At the time, this author spoke with the mother of one of these football players (Mrs. Donna R). As nurses, both wondered if these were staph infections. The fact was discussed that since the boys all shared the same shower facilities and frequently suffered cuts and abrasions that it stood to reason this could likely be the avenue of transmission of such bacteria. It was later learned that a few weeks prior to this, a visiting football team had had a player with exactly the same type of infected wound and had used the shower facilities in this same field house. Fortunately, these boys were seen and treated successfully by physicians.

Almost exactly one year later, into yet another football season, the rumblings of similar instances can be heard- athletes developing drug-resistant infections. This time, however, the story is widespread and of concern for schools across the entire country.

With the common and unrestrained use of antibiotics by many, some common bacteria have become resistant to the most widely prescribed treatments. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, more commonly known as MRSA, is a drug resistant strain of staph bacteria that is only treatable with more aggressive antibiotics. This bacterium has come to be called a "super bug." The infection itself was once known as a nosocomial, or hospital acquired, infection.

MRSA can be spread through contact with the skin of an infected individual as well as by sharing items, such as towels that have been used by an infected person. In light of recent events, it appears that shower stalls, restrooms, and workout areas should be receiving scrutiny as sources of harboring this type of bacteria.

MRSA has been around for years. Every nursing student in America will learn about this disease at some point during his or her schooling. Similarly, nurses are drilled every day about the importance of hand washing and are trained to use strict hand washing protocols as the first line of defense against the spread of such disease.

A decade and a half ago, as a new registered nurse, this author was astonished as she made rounds with a physician and noted that he used a scalpel at the beside of a patient to debride a wound infected with MRSA. He did this without wearing gloves. Not only that, he left the patient's room without washing his hands, grabbed up the patient record, touched it all over, and wrote on the pages of the chart with the same bare hands he had used to poke and prod the wound. Then, shockingly, he went immediately to the next patient room without once washing his hands and began to examine that patient.

Medical professionals are not the only ones who fail to perform hand washing. Anyone who has stood in line in a public restroom knows that many leave without washing. As super bugs are becoming increasingly common, it is crucial that each person be made aware of the importance of the basic act of hand washing. A simple 20 seconds with soap (never bar soap which can be a breeding ground for bacteria) and water while rubbing the hands together from just above the wrists to the tips of the fingers would greatly decrease the spread of many such diseases.

This is something that is basic to human hygiene and should be taught at home, school and work. For instance, that person who leaves the bathroom without washing his hands is not an island unto himself. Rather, he leaves a trail of germs on doorknobs, pens, computer keyboards, desks, phones, and other equipment everywhere his hands happen to light. For the safety of everyone, this person should be instructed about his responsibility to wash his hands.

With MRSA running rampant and infecting possibly more people than contract AIDS yearly, it essential that all people know the importance of thorough hand washing. Since many schools are finding this illness among students, specifically those who participate in sports, athletes and coaches should be cognizant of the fact that shower stalls and equipment must be regularly and completely disinfected in between every use. It is not enough to say that this be done; someone has to be made personally responsible to see that it is done.

Implementing these basic principles will surely help eliminate MRSA and many other super bugs and will save a host of lives in the process.