MRSA Running rampant on A.T. -- Hikers Beware!!

[rem1536]

Everyone in my group got MRSA Staph infections after our A.T. trip. I tried to stay as sanitary as possible, and I still got it.

Has anyone else experienced this? I was on the Georgia/Southern N.C. section in July.

[rem1536]

Google MRSA and do a little research. It's some scary stuff.

Here's an article from cnn.com about it.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/condi....ap/index.html

[shelterbuilder]

Everyone in my group got MRSA Staph infections after our A.T. trip. I tried to stay as sanitary as possible, and I still got it.

Has anyone else experienced this? I was on the Georgia/Southern N.C. section in July.

I'm no expert, but I would suspect that someone in your group had already been exposed to it immediately before the trip.

[Appalachian Tater]

MRSA is serious and hospitals have had to close units but there are tons of healthy people walking around carrying it. However, this is the first time I have heard about it being a problem on the A.T. A phrase like "MRSA Running rampant on A.T. -- Hikers Beware!!" is overdramatic. It's pretty much running rampant everywhere and recent information indicates that the problem has been underestimated. The common cold is running rampant on the A.T. as well.

Certainly tick-borne diseases pose a more frequent and serious threat to the average hiker and it is a problem that does not seem to be taken very seriously by very many.

Your point about good hygiene is well-taken. Children used to learn hygiene and physical health in school, I have seen the textbooks, but I don't think they do anymore. In 2006 there was at least one hiker who was hiking the ENTIRE trail without bathing. That is asking for trouble.

[Uncle Silly]

However, this is the first time I have heard about it being a problem on the A.T. A phrase like "MRSA Running rampant on A.T. -- Hikers Beware!!" is overdramatic.

I saw at least two thru-hikers who had staph or MRSA infections in the VT/NH/ME region. There were reports of several others with the same issue. Considering I'd never heard of staph infections on the trail before this season, I don't think this is terribly overdramatic.

I'm curious, rem1536, you said your whole group got infections... how many folks is that?

Now the news programs on Charlotte's local CBS affiliate that run "investigative" reports on how much "bacteria that can make you sick" exists on (bathroom sink faucets, high school drinking fountains, or whatever surface strikes their fancy) ... now that's overdramatic.

[rem1536]

I saw at least two thru-hikers who had staph or MRSA infections in the VT/NH/ME region. There were reports of several others with the same issue. Considering I'd never heard of staph infections on the trail before this season, I don't think this is terribly overdramatic.

I'm curious, rem1536, you said your whole group got infections... how many folks is that?

Now the news programs on Charlotte's local CBS affiliate that run "investigative" reports on how much "bacteria that can make you sick" exists on (bathroom sink faucets, high school drinking fountains, or whatever surface strikes their fancy) ... now that's overdramatic.

There were 3 of us.

[fitz]

I don't usually post, I am an avid reader and lurker. I am a nurse who works in a jail setting. Staph is not new and neither is MRSA. staph is on you all the time. A local skin infection needs to be watched, kept clean and dry, and most important keep your hands off. If it gets larger than a dime see a MD. Most staph infections are moved around the body and from people to people by poor hand washing. Yes it can be scary when the media jumps on the band wagon hyping the situation. MRSA is not new and there are ways of treating most infections. So wash your hands, don't share clothes or sleeping bags. Clean your equipment on a regular basis. just my 2 cents worth.

fitz

[Appalachian Tater]

I don't usually post, I am an avid reader and lurker. I am a nurse who works in a jail setting. Staph is not new and neither is MRSA. staph is on you all the time. A local skin infection needs to be watched, kept clean and dry, and most important keep your hands off. If it gets larger than a dime see a MD. Most staph infections are moved around the body and from people to people by poor hand washing. Yes it can be scary when the media jumps on the band wagon hyping the situation. MRSA is not new and there are ways of treating most infections. So wash your hands, don't share clothes or sleeping bags. Clean your equipment on a regular basis. just my 2 cents worth.

fitz

Do you work in a jail or prison? Have you had a problem with MRSA? Drug-resistant TB with HIV+ prisoners? I'm just curious as to what changes or trends you've seen in the last few years.

[fitz]

I work in a county jail which at my building houses over 200 inmates. Yes skin infections are on the rise. Most of my inmates claim they are spider bites. We have to educate them on spider behavior. Most spiders don't go out of there way to bite a human. Never had a real spider bite here but we do have a good amount of staph infections. Our HIV population is non-existant. We may get one person a yr in with HIV. I have been here 6 yrs and never had a case of active TB. Inmates and skin problems go hand in hand d/t they have nothing but time to scratch and pick at themselves.

fitz

[Appalachian Tater]

Inmates and skin problems go hand in hand d/t they have nothing but time to scratch and pick at themselves.

fitz

That is funny in a sad way. I wouldn't have thought of that but it makes a lot of sense. I knew a patient who lost a leg to necrotizing fasciitis, I think it was a Strep. and it started where he had a small bruise, no abrasion or cut. The skin is the largest body organ and in many ways very amazing with all the things it does and all it endures.

[WILLIAM HAYES]

I have worked in a hospital for 25 years and community acquired MRSA has become an increasing issue.My infectious disease docs tell me your best protection is to make sure you wash your hands frequently .Also
stay from folks with hacking coughs, treat open sores quickly especially blisters and in particular on the trail don't shake hands with people-you don't know how clean their hands are ,dont share food out of the same zip lock -actually you are a much safer situation on the trail than probably any place else.
Hillbilly

[the goat]

from the washington post today:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...601392_pf.html

[Fahrenheit]

MRSA may not be new but in recent years the amount of community acquired MRSA has sky-rocketed. It is something that the health community is only just starting to realize the scope of. On the other hand that Washington Post article strikes me as a bit over-dramatic. MRSA can be quite nasty but the worst cases we see are hospital acquired in already sick people . Community acquired MRSA, which is what the OP's group likely had, is no fun but usually much easier to treat. Its definately important to get it treated though as you can get quite sick.

[handlebar]

Everyone in my group got MRSA Staph infections after our A.T. trip. I tried to stay as sanitary as possible, and I still got it.

Has anyone else experienced this? I was on the Georgia/Southern N.C. section in July.

My hiking buddy Veto, who had been an intensive care nurse, got a boil on his knee and then got an infection on his foot that took him off the trail for 3 weeks. Turned out to MRSA.

I had a boil where my pack rubbed against a vertebre. It was resistant to some of the antibiotics, but healed promptly when drained at Millinocket and treated with a broad spectrum antibiotic.

What someone posted about hygiene is important. It's also important do deal with infections promptly.

[Appalachian Tater]

A lot of hospital employees, especially in the ICU, test positive for MRSA and that's method of transmission.

[Lone Wolf]

stay out of all hostels and shelters and y'all will be fine

[modiyooch]

I don't know much about mrsa, but I had staph when I was 10 yrs old from an infected mosquito bite. Spent a week in the hospital.

[Smile]

Interesting first and second posts by this user

[rem1536]

Interesting first and second posts by this user

Yeah, I was an avid trailplace user, and posted on there quite a bit before/after my hike.
I just wanted to bring it to everyone's attention, because if a thru-hiker gets out there and gets an abscess and doesn't get it seen about the results can be quite devastating.

I agree with the statement about staying away from hostels, shelters and privies, but without them it can make the trail pretty miserable.

Don't use my number of posts as a sign that I don't keep up on the A.T. I just wanted to do a little public service.

[Appalachian Tater]

Staph. aureus is a common bacteria on the skin and in the nose. MRSA is the same bacteria, it has just changed genetically to be resistant to methicillin. A hundred years ago people died from infected mosquito bites and pimples and boils all the time. As organisms become resistant and the pace of discovering new antibiotics slows, you will see more people dying from infections.

MRSA contaminates surfaces and is transmitted that way as well as person-to-person.

Many MRSA infections in otherwise healthy people start out looking like a bug bite and develop into a boil. Another common form is an infection of the hair follicles in a rash. Anything unusual like this and you should seek medical attention.

MRSA is nothing new and there has not been some horrible increase in the number of cases over a short period of time. What's new is the media attention. If a group on the A.T. got it, it's no different from a group getting diarrhea at the same time or sharing a cold. There is no need to spread panic or create drama. The situation today is no different than it was a month ago nor is it different than it will be a month from now. When seeking information on it from the internet, look for reliable sources like the CDC, physician organizations, etc, and not the news bites on the 11 o'clock news. They are no more reliable at reporting on MRSA than they are on bear "attacks".