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Every day of my life I try to avoid coming into contact with germs. They can do things like give you a sore throat or bacterial infection or numerous other pesky, bothersome things that can make you sick. But for people like me with a Lung Disease like COPD or Emphysema, Asthma or many others to numerous to mention here. Coming into contact with germs could be life threatening. Life is not easy when you have to think about and plan out each thing you want to touch. First of all you go through a self re-programing training period where you practice and try to remember that you should not touch this, or that is ok to touch. All of a sudden your life becomes quite complicated. Most people like myself with Lung disease have many other complications in their life. This is only one of the many we have to contend with. The way most of us die is, we end up in the hospital with pneumonia brought on by an infection that escalated out of control because of an already compromised immune system. We just were not strong enough to fight and recover, even with the tons of anti-biotics and preventive meds and shots we are constantly taking. Germs live EVERYWHERE. Being aware is the key. . |
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Click on below photo for
Informatiion on antibiotic resistance.
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Drug-resistant strains of bacteria are an increasingly problem
in hospitals, but a new study suggests that old
standbys such as frequently
washing hands with soap and water can sharply reduce infections
of this type.
CLEANING FOR HEALTH
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Some Facts About Germs and Disease Germs are most often spread by hands through person-to-person contact. Germs can enter our bodies through the mouth, nose, eyes and breaks in the skin without our even knowing we've been infected. Poor personal hygiene by foodhandlers is the second leading cause of foodborne illness. Americans spend about $5 billion each year on their colds _ about $3 billion on doctors' visits and $2 billion on treatments. An estimated 60 million days of school and 50 million days of work are lost annually because of the common cold. Some 5.5 million visits to doctors' offices each year are due to skin infections. Germs can be transferred from inanimate surfaces to hands and vice-versa. Some germs can live on dry surfaces (such as toys) for several hours and moist surfaces (like bathroom sinks) for up to three days. Salmonella can survive freezing and can survive on dry surfaces for at least 24 hours. The average kitchen dishcloth can contain 4 billion living germs. . |
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Antibacterial Personal Cleansing Products Personal cleansing products intended to kill or inhibit certain bacteria on the hands or body are generally called antibacterial soaps or washes. Depending on their active ingredient(s) and specific formulation, these products are effective against the bacteria that can cause odor, skin infections, food poisoning, intestinal illnesses and other commonly transmitted diseases. First introduced in the 1920s to control odor-causing bacteria, antibacterial soaps are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. . |
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Benefits of Handwashing and Antibacterial Soaps Handwashing is recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as one of the most important means of preventing germs from spreading. Washing hands with plain soap initially removes some germs, but germs left on the hand can quickly regrow and multiply. Washing hands with an antibacterial soap results in reduced bacterial growth on the skin than when washing with plain soap, because a very small amount of the antibacterial ingredient remains on the skin after rinsing to control the growth of bacteria. Dishwashing liquids that are also antibacterial hand cleansers provide protection to the skin when they're used as one would use a liquid hand soap. About 65% of consumers on occasion use a hand dishwashing liquid to wash their hands at the kitchen sink. . |
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Testing Antibacterial Soaps Both laboratory and clinical tests are used to evaluate the effectiveness of antibacterial soaps. Laboratory Tests
Clinical Tests
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The How's of Handwashing 1.Wet your hands with warm running water. 2. Add soap, then rub hands together to make a lather. Do this away from running water, so you don't wash the lather away. Wash the front and back of your hands, between fingers and under nails. Continue washing for 10 to 15 seconds. 3. Rinse hands well under warm running water. 4. Dry hands thoroughly with a clean towel. . |
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FAQs About Antibacterial Soaps: A. The main difference is that antibacterial soaps contain a special ingredient for controlling germs. When washing with an antibacterial soap, a very small amount of antibacterial ingredient is deposited on the skin that keeps the number of germs at a significantly reduced level for an extended period of time. Washing with plain soap initially removes some germs, but the germs left on the hands can quickly regrow and increase in number. Q. What germs do antibacterial soaps kill? A. Antibacterial soaps kill or inhibit bacteria that cause odor, skin infections, food poisoning, intestinal.illnesses and othertransmitted diseases. Their effectiveness depends on the antibacterial ingredient, its.concentration, its contact time on the skin and the product formulation. Q. Who should use antibacterial soaps? A. Antibacterial soaps provide extra protection against bacteria that may cause many common illnesses. Consumers looking for additional protection before preparing and eating meals, after using the bathroom, diapering a child, after playing with a pet or when caring for the sick may want to use an antibacterial soap. Q. Are deodorant soaps the same as antibacterial soaps? A. No. A deodorant soap is a cosmetic product intended for washing the body to eliminate odors. Deodorant soaps may or may not contain an ingredient that kills or inhibits the growth of odor causing.bacteria. Q. Why are so many antibacterial soaps on the market now? A. Soaps intended to kill or inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria have been marketed since the.1920s. Greater consumer concern over health risks from germs has generated increased demand for new antibacterial hand and body wash products. Q. What is the purpose of a combination dishwashing liquid and antibacterial hand soap? A. Dishwashing liquids that are also antibacterial hand cleansers provide protection to consumers who .use a hand dishwashing liquid to wash their hands at the kitchen sink. Q. What is triclosan? A. Triclosan is an antimicrobial ingredient that is used in many hand and body wash products. In antibacterial soaps, it is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration as an over-the-counter (OTC).drug. Triclosan has been used safely in personal care products for more than 30 years. Q. What other active ingredients are used in antibacterial soaps? A. Triclocarban, chloroxylenol (also known as PCMX) and alcohol are three other commonly used ingredients. Q. Is there a link between the use of antibacterial soaps and increased resistance to antibiotics? A. Group of experts convened by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently looked at this question and found no evidence to support it. In fact, scientific studies have demonstrated the beneficial .....role of antibacterial wash products in reducing the transfer and incidence of antibiotic resistant bacteria.in hospitals. ..... |
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Antibacterial Household Cleaning Products Benefits of Disinfecting Household Surfaces |
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Q. What is the difference between a disinfectant and a disinfectant cleaner or antibacterial cleaner? A. Disinfectants contain antimicrobial ingredients that kill germs if surfaces are free from heavy soil. Disinfectant or antibacterial cleaners contain ingredients for removing soil, as well as antimicrobial ingredients that kill germs. Household bleach disinfects when used according to label directions. Q. What antimicrobial ingredients are used in household cleaning products that kill germs? A. Common antimicrobial ingredients include pine oil, quaternary ammonium compounds, sodium hypochlorite, phenols and ethanol. Q. What microorganisms do disinfectants or antibacterial cleaners kill on household surfaces? A. Depending on the active ingredient(s) and the product formulation, they kill bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, which cause intestinal illness, and Staphylococcus which causes skin infections; fungus that causes athlete's foot; and viruses such as Herpes simplex, Rhinovirus, which is the leading cause of the common cold; and Rotavirus, the major cause of diarrhea in young children. Read the label to find out specifically which germs the product is intended to kill. Q. How can I tell if a household cleaning product kills germs? A. Look for the words "disinfect," "disinfectant," "antibacterial" or "sanitize" on the label, as well as an EPA registration number, as this ensures that the product has met EPA requirements for killing germs. Q.Does a combination hand dishwashing liquid and antibacterial hand soap kill germs on household surfaces? A. No. Dishwashing liquids that are also antibacterial hand cleansers provide protection to consumers.who use a hand dishwashing liquid to wash their hands at the kitchen sink. These products are not.intended to kill germs on dishes, countertops or other household surfaces. Q. Can I use a mix-at-home recipe as adisinfectant? A. Studies have shown that most mix-at-home recipes have no disinfectant properties at all. Particularly when there are health-related reasons for using an antibacterial household cleaning product, such as on a cutting board that might be contaminated with Salmonella or on a surface that has been in contact with someone who is sick, it's important to remember that only.EPA registered disinfectants have been tested for their ability to kill germs. Q. Isn't a well-cleaned surface free of germs? A. Proper cleaning and drying remove most of the germs and usually make a surface safe. However, on surfaces used for food preparation, around the toilet or on changing tables, "most" and."usually" may not be enough. Proper cleaning followed by proper use of a disinfectant or a disinfectant or antibacterial cleaner is much safer. Disinfecting the surface also means that the germs have been killed, and not just removed to the sponge or other cleaning cloth. Q. Where in the home is it most important to use a disinfectant or antibacterial cleaner? A. Areas of food preparation should be cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis. It's a good idea to clean and disinfect moist surfaces such as sinks and toilets at least every few days, because germs can grow rapidly in a moist environment. If someone is sick, daily cleaning and disinfection are recommended. More frequent disinfection can also help guard the health of those especially vulnerable to infection, such as young children, the elderly, people just home from the hospital or those with chronic serious illnesses. Q. Do I need to wipe off a surface after disinfecting? A. Not usually, but be sure to follow the label directions on the product you're using. Most often recommendation is to just rinse the surface and let it air dry. |
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Fake ones on nurses may pass bacteria to patients |
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Docs, nurses not scrubbing for infected people |
CYTOMEGALOVIRUS:
Human cytomegalovirus is a member of the herpesvirus family. Cytomegalovirus
is a very common infection with
80% of the adult population having evidence of infection. Once infected
with cytomegalovirus, individuals are
permanently infected with the virus. Fortunately, most infections do
not result in disease although there are
exceptions. Infrequently, cytomegalovirus can cause infectious mononucleosis
in otherwise normal healthy adults.
Much more commonly, cytomegalovirus is associated with disease in newborn
infants or people that are
immunocompromised including transplant recipients and people with AIDS.
Infection of newborn infants usually results from transmission of the
virus to the fetus while in utero. Infection of
newborn infants is associated with a range of presentations from asymptomatic
infection to deafness to mental
retardation to death. Infection of people undergoing bone marrow transplantation
is associated with pneumonitis
while cytomegalovirus infection in people with AIDS is associated with
retinitis, gastroenteritis and encephalitis. For
additional information about the virus please see links.orCytomegalovirus
Steps to a healthier kitchen
http://www.usaweekend.com/00_issues/000312/000312prevention.html
Handwashing
http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/955074416.html
THINGS YOUR DOCTOR DIDN'T TELL YOU (Section)
http://www.landfield.com/faqs/medicine/transplant-faq/part2/
...
.....
....................WHO
Issues Antibiotic Alert
WASHINGTON (AP) - The World Health Organization
warned that increasingly drug-resistant infections in rich and
developing nations alike are threatening to make
once-treatable diseases incurable...........Click here
to find out why!...........
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last edited 3-27-2001