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While I wholly support W Beaumont's concerns over personal hygeine
amongst clinical staff, I feel the distinction between colonisation and
infection may have been blurred.
The popular media repeatedly portray MRSA as a 'super-bug' however
its pathogenicity is no greater than 'ordinary Staphylococcus Aureus.
When it causes an infection - ie, inflammation and tissue damage - then I
accept that it may be more difficult to eradicate, although the mainstay
of treatment for leg ulcers is dressing and not systemic antibiotics.
The presence of MRSA on the mucocutaneous membranes of health care
workers clearly acts as a resevoir for transmission and hand washing is
crucial but I doubt that "30% of people may have MRSA infection".
Bacterial colonisation and infection are different
While I wholly support W Beaumont's concerns over personal hygeine
amongst clinical staff, I feel the distinction between colonisation and
infection may have been blurred.
The popular media repeatedly portray MRSA as a 'super-bug' however
its pathogenicity is no greater than 'ordinary Staphylococcus Aureus.
When it causes an infection - ie, inflammation and tissue damage - then I
accept that it may be more difficult to eradicate, although the mainstay
of treatment for leg ulcers is dressing and not systemic antibiotics.
The presence of MRSA on the mucocutaneous membranes of health care
workers clearly acts as a resevoir for transmission and hand washing is
crucial but I doubt that "30% of people may have MRSA infection".
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests