Safety Update

Safety Update: Superbugs You May Not Know About!

Have you ever heard of the term "superbug"? According to the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia, a superbug is defined as a microorganism or bacteria which has the ability to withstand the effects of antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance occurs through the process of natural selection where an organism can thrive in certain environments more successfully and randomly mutate to exhibit harmful and damaging effects; even when exposed to antibiotic treatments.

There is currently a cause for concern regarding the presence of superbugs in North America as they are not widely discussed and are not commonly known about beyond the medical community. The harsh reality is that drug-resistant superbugs are spreading rapidly in intensive care units across the country and their damaging infections are contributing to longer hospital stays and patients contracting critical illnesses such as pneumonia and infections in the blood, skin, heart and bones which can lead to death. Here are 2 serious superbugs you should be aware of:

1. Clostridium difficile (C. diff): An intestinal disease that occurs when antibiotics wipe out all of the good bacteria in the intestine causing an imbalance in the intestines leading to diarrhea and severe abdominal pain. If not treated, the colon can die and lead to death. C. diff can live on surfaces for up to 6 months and can be spread from an infected person to a healthy person through ingestion of the bacterium.
2. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): A bacterium responsible for several difficult-to-treat infections in humans. MRSA is especially troublesome in hospital-associated infections. In hospitals, patients with open wounds, invasive devices, and weakened immune systems are at greater risk for infection than the general public. MRSA has adapted to survive antibiotic treatments and may be found in cafeterias, bathrooms, elevators, or various other surfaces where infected people have had access.

The morbidity and mortality of these bacteria is staggering. On average, hospitalizations for the treatment of C. diff and MRSA versus other infections have a length of stay approximately three times longer and are three times more expensive. Additionally the risk of death is three to five times greater for patients infected with these superbugs versus any other organism/bacteria.

Because superbugs are not easy to treat, it is important to continue to break the chain of the spread of bacteria. This may be accomplished through regular hand washing with soap and hot water for at least 30 seconds and through disinfecting common areas and surfaces that may have been exposed to harmful bacteria.

It is also equally important to remember that 'not all bugs need drugs'. The overuse or misuse of antibiotics can be a detrimental factor in the cycle of bacterial resistance to treatment. If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic for you, be sure you understand how to take it, and for how long. If you have any questions about how it works or what the potential side effects could be, talk to your doctor or your pharmacist.

For more information on this topic please visit the Health Canada website here.

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