How Drug Resistant Bacterial Infections are Transmitted

Drug-resistant bacterial infections do not respond to antibiotics, which makes them particularly difficult to treat. While most infections occur in a hospital setting, infections can occur in perfectly healthy people. These types of infections are more dangerous to individuals and the public, so it’s important to know how they spread and how to avoid them.

Types of Resistant Bacteria

There are many types of drug resistant bacteria, but recently the CDC published a report that outlines the top 18 drug-resistant bacteria that pose threats to the United States. Some common types include:

• Clostridium Difficile (CDIFF)
• Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)
• Neisseria gonnorrhoeae
• Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

You can read the full list here. 

The Dangers of Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections

Because drug-resistant bacterial infections do not respond to common treatment, they can spread quickly. One particular drug-resistant bacteria called MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) can survive for extensive periods on surfaces and objects including door handles, floors, sinks, taps, cleaning equipment, and fabric.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), drug-resistant bacterial infections impede the control of infectious diseases, result in prolonged illness, increase health care expenditures, jeopardize global health care gains, and increase risk of death.

If someone with a drug resistant bacterial infection dies, or if there is a mass outbreak, the areas where the infection were present must be thoroughly disinfected to remove risk of further infection. However, this is not a task just anyone can tackle without the proper training, supplies, or methods. The best route is to hire a professional bioremediation company.

Spreading Drug Resistant Bacterial Infections

Drug-resistant bacterial infections may be spread easily when the following five Cs are present:

• Crowding
• Frequent skin-to-skin contact
• Compromised skin (cuts or abrasions)
• Contaminated items and surfaces
• Lack of cleanliness

Hospitals, health care settings, schools, dormitories, military barracks, households, correctional facilities, and daycare centers are all places were the five Cs can be found. Do keep in mind, however, that drug resistant bacterial infections can be spread in people and places where the five Cs are not present. The five Cs simply make spreading an infection easier.

Aftermath and Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infection Cleanup

Aftermath uses proprietary cleaning agents and meticulous cleaning methods to disinfect where potentially deadly bacterial and viral infections were present. We return your property back to normal after a traumatic event, including outbreaks or deaths, so that you can focus on other, more important issues at hand.

Call us 24/7 at (877) 872-4339 or contact us online; our friendly representatives are here and happy to help you.

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Sources:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/10634.php
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs194/en/
http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/biggest_threats.html