There is apparently an epidemic of superbug proportions going around the country. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or as those in the know call it, MRSA is making its rounds and the CDC here in Atlanta thinks that it might be more deadly than the AIDs virus. Not a good sign when you think that this is really a basic staph infection that is immune to almost all current treatments. Staph infections occur from skin abrasions, cuts and other wounds where the inside is open to the outside. Its a scary thought considering that the ring finger on my right hand was recently the victim of an attack by one of my dogs (two of them got in to a row over some food on the counter and I made the mistake of trying to pick the lighter one up to move him away from the fight).

It would have been the perfect time for me to get a staph infection. However, those at greatest risk are those in

in hospitals and it has been spreading through prisons, gyms and locker rooms, and in poor urban neighborhoods.

Apparently its been going around schools as well. Mostly due to the contact that athletes have by sharing sports equipment. Its become more common and has even shut down a school system in Bedford County, Virginia where a student died this past week from the infection. Its pretty scary stuff when you think about it.

The good thing is that despite the fact that almost everyone carries staph on their skin (or apparently in their noses) there are things we can do to help limit its effects. Washing hands and minimizing contact with other people’s open wounds will help a lot. So will making sure that any cuts or scrapes you get are cleaned well and treated with an antibiotic ointment like Staphaseptic. Staphaseptic is used by medical professionals, police and emts and by many sports trainers across the country. The cool thing is that it helps stop staph infections at the wound.

Make sure you’re not at risk of catching this super bug, wash your hands, be safe and check out staphaseptic, I used it on my last cut and it healed great!