MRSA Is Also Airborne
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Arueus, or MRSA as it is commonly referred to, is a particularly difficult-to-treat bacterium strain that manifests primarily in lesions on the skin or other membranes. However, there is a strain known as CA-MRSA that can affect the bones, joints and the heart. Any form of MRSA is commonly referred to as multi-drug resistant. Everyday new data is emerging and it is spreading more and in more ways than were previously believed. In fact, statistics show that in 2005 more people succumbed to MRSA than to the HIV virus.
In the past it was thought that MRSA was spread by contact from the lesion of an infected person to a non-infected person. This no longer appears to be the case. Hospitals around the world are seeking ways to prevent airborne spread of the MRSA bacteria. A recent study of hospitals showed that even after disinfection with HPV (Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor) where the bacterium were completely eradicated from the room, within a day or so they were back again. No patients had populated the room during or after the eradication period.
Currently there are systems that can effectively eradicate the germ and filter the air to prevent future recurrences. One system on the market today is VIGILAIR. It uses a combination of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation and high efficiency filtration. The manufacturers also believe that the system can prevent the threat from swine flu as well.
While MRSA is still primarily contracted from matter seeping from lesions of infected people, there are strains that are airborne and should be guarded against as well. If you know someone who is infected or if a family member or household member has been diagnosed as having this resistant form of staphylococcus, it would be in your best interest to take precautionary measures.
2010 Effective Colon Cleanser
I was astonished to see this article referring to hydrogen peroxide vapour decontamination in this way. I work for BIOQUELL and I am the author of one of the papers examining HPV recontamination.
The studies examining HPV recontamination have investigated recontamination of SURFACES, not air (see Otter et al. Assessing the biological efficacy and rate of recontamination following hydrogen peroxide vapour decontamination. J Hosp Infect 2007; 67: 182-8 and Hardy et al. Rapid recontamination with MRSA of the environment of an intensive care unit after decontamination with hydrogen peroxide vapour. J Hosp Infect 2007; 66: 360-8).
Recontamiantion of surfaces could occur through a number of routes, most likely the hands of healthcare workers. Although air could be one of those routes, neither of these studies examine air contamination so this post is disingenuious in the extreme.
Jon Otter
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