由 home-healthhaven 
Since Joe Baxter retired from medical research, he’s taken up freelance writing, particularly about medical journals. Besides writing, he enjoys traveling abroad and working in his woodshop.
Lately, superbugs have become a big problem in hospitals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued an alert about a new drug-resistant bug called CRE, part of the Enterobacteriaceae family. Other well-known superbugs include MRSA and C. diff. MRSA kills about 19,000 people in the U.S. each year, while C. diff causes more than 30,000 deaths and infects about half a million people annually. Ironically, these superbugs often thrive in hospitals, where people go to get better.
Hospitals are on the frontline in fighting the spread of these superbugs. However, combating them is expensive and time-consuming. With recent budget cuts, many hospitals have slashed housekeeping staff, yet these workers are crucial in the fight against superbugs.
So, what can hospitals do?
1. **Antibiotic Monitoring:** Hospitals need to track and limit the use of antibiotics, which can encourage the growth of bugs like C. diff. By keeping a close eye on antibiotic use, hospitals can reduce infection rates. This is especially challenging in nursing homes where antibiotic use is high, and staff is limited.
2. **Infection Control and Housekeeping:** The best way to prevent the spread of superbugs is to keep hospital areas clean. This involves rigorous cleaning protocols and ensuring hospital staff regularly wash their hands.
Beyond these practices, new methods are emerging to combat these pathogens:
– **HINS-light Environmental Decontamination System:** This system uses specific light waves to cause a chemical reaction within the superbugs, making them self-destruct. It’s harmless to humans and effective against drug-resistant bacteria like MRSA and C. diff. The system can continuously disinfect hospital wards and isolation rooms.
– **Disabling MRSA’s Core Functions:** Canadian researchers have discovered that disrupting certain chemicals within the MRSA bacteria can render it non-infectious.
– **MRSA-Killing Coating:** Scientists are developing a coating for surgical equipment using an enzyme found in Staph bacteria that naturally kills MRSA. This enzyme, called lysostaphin, can be mixed with paint to coat equipment. Once applied, it remains effective even after washing and is non-toxic to other cells.
Superbugs are a significant issue without simple fixes. However, advances in clinical research are making headway in controlling or eliminating them. Alongside these innovations, proactive measures in medical facilities can help reduce infections, ensuring that hospitals remain places for healing rather than sources of further illness.