Medical Malpractice

Do the worst diseases occur in hospitals, and what is the deal with hand sanitizer?

I heard that using hand sanitizer frequently over a certain period of time causing 'super germs', since the germs start to become immune. Also, someone said that since hospitals keep the place extra sanitary, that is where horrible diseases, such as flesh eating ones, break out. Is this true? Has anyone heard of this?

Public Comments

1. I remember one time I was working in a hospital, and I got this like disease in my ear, and I ended up being sick for a month on and off on and off... and I would get these really high fevers and hallucinations, and I went to the doctor many times, because I thought it was an ear infection, but it turned out to be this bacteria that adapted to the medicine, so it would always come back, eventually though I started taking this really strong antibiotic,and it went away.... so I guess it depends on the hospital... because then I moved to volunteer at a different one and I have worked there for two years now, and nothing has happened, I have never gotten sick or anything... and using handsanitizerr over time won't cause "super germs" because everytime you touch something the germs will be fresh, so they can never become immune, since the chance of touching the same germ is like 1 in a billion... I don't know if you understand my drift, but if you use hand sanitizer it will kill the germs, so you can't touch them..and they won't be able to get immune... cuz they will be dead...
2. The hospital thing is ridiculous, but there is some merit in the idea that germs will eventually mutate and become immune the defenses we've created. This won't happen to you individually if you use sanitizer too frequently, but through overuse in general. This is more of a concern for the frivolous use of antibiotics than it is for things like hand sanitizer, though.
3. The hand sanitizer is more for the use of visitors and nursing staff to prevent the spread of germs. Washing hands is the single most effective way to stop spreading germs. The flesh eating germs do not 'break out' in the hospital. We do see them being admitted but in order to stop the spread of germs to other patients, that's where we use the special hand sanitizer.
4. no, hand sanitizers, antibacterial soaps etc do not create "super germs", they do the same thing regular old soap and water does, they make the germs too slick to stick. None of them kill germs, they just make it possible to wash them away, or wipe them away. And hospitals, because they are full of sick people, are magnets for infections of all sorts, is why medical professionals are so careful to wash frequently, and the same activity will work for anyone. Keeping things sanitary, in a hospital, or anywhere for that matter, keeps infectious organisms to a minimum, but there is no way to be rid of them entirely, they live on our skin, and they live in our world. But, no, hospitals are not the sole source of nasty infections, and to say so does them a disservice. The source of nasty infections like MRSA or VRDL comes from people, people who do not take their full course of antibiotics as prescribed, and there for give organisms the chance to develop resistance, people who do not maintain good or even adequate hygeine, people who do not think to even wash their produce from a grocery store, this is where the so called "super germs" come from.
5. I know it seems likethe worst diseases start at hospitals, and the rate of nosocomial diseases (hospital born) are on the rise, but, 'horrible diseases' don't 'break out' at a hospital. Now, let's tear your question down. Hand sanitizer can be used if non-visable germs are on your hands. It is a temporary solution to use between patients. What do I mean by temporary? It's a 2:1 ratio. see pt. 1 - use sanitizer. See pt. 2, use sanitizer. see pt. 3, wash hands with soap and water. Exceptions: If you touch something visable, sputum, blood, feces, urine, etc. Wash your hands with soap and water. Sing the old mcdonald song while you do so. Exception 2 - If the pt. has C-Diff... a very bad diahrrea. It' a fungus. Hand sanitizers don't work on fungul diseases. If you want to read more on the stuff, I suggest you hit the CDC website. I've also attached a link about nosocomial infections. Hopefully, both of these will rest your fears a bit. If you are a nurse, or CNA, wash your hands as often as you can - use the sanitizer when you can't. If you are a family member in a hospital, wash your hands before and after leaving your family member's room. If you can't, use the sanitizer. Hand washing is the number 1 defense against the spread of disease. If there are signs on the door of the patient's room, and it tells you to wear a mask - just do it. It's for your own protection, and in some cases, the patient's, too.
6. Hospitals do have a high rate of giving people MRSA staph infections. Staph bacteria is common on your skin. If the nurse or doctor doesn't clean your skin properly in the area they are about to penetrate they can transfer skin bacteria into your body. Some of these bacteria can be methicillin-resistant (the M & R in MRSA). They are resistant to anti-biotics and can kill you.