Just in time for Halloween: Superbugs

Though, hardly a brand-new development, news of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, has been out in the news recently, including a handful of tragic incidents involving children.

You can find lots of articles from multiple media sources, but here is a good one from Reuters via Scientific American, called Two reports show "superbug" bacteria spread.

Now, I'm not normally prone to worrying over all the worldly threats out there. I have mixed feelings about warning my four year-old about "being careful of strangers." (But that's a topic for another day.) There is something about these constantly evolving bacteria that gives me the heebie jeebies. It's the kind of thing that makes one fantasize about moving away from civilization to in order to protect one's self from all the ills and potential ills of the world. Of course, there is no escape.

As always, all we can do is minimize risk. It amazes me how much better we can do. A couple of surveys on personal hygiene shows much is desired. In this survey only 90% of women and 75% of men were observed on average washing their hands after using a public restroom. The disparity between men and women's cleanliness should surprise no one who has been in a men's restroom. My guess is that the number is much lower in the home, where people don't have peer pressure and probably feel more sanitary that at an Atlanta Braves game. In another survey last year, 2 out of 3 adults admit that don't consistently wash their hands. This CBS News article sums up the findings nicely.

I must be clear that the "superbug" MRSA bacteria aren't alleged to be spreading in the restrooms of public sporting events. What's more, this strain requires some sort of skin puncture to get into the bloodstream and infect the person. It's just that it seems we can be cleaner on many fronts, as well as maybe not overuse antibiotics.

Of course, there is some suspicion out there that raising young kids in sterile environments doesn't allow them to develop healthy immune systems and makes them more prone to allergies. It just goes to show you can't win.

Bathrooms

When I was a kid in a public place with my mom and would have to go to the bathroom, she would have me accompany her in the women's for the longest time. This was a frequent event as I had the world's smallest bladder and had to go to the bathroom all the time and everywhere. I don't know how old I was before she let me go in the men's by myslef, but it took long enough that there were a couple awkward years there. She was worried about creeps in the men's room.

Senator Craig reminds us again of the creeping kinds of things that can go on in public bathrooms, but are we paranoid? Are we really taking much of a risk by letting our child go into a bathroom alone while we camp out mere feet from the bathroom door?

Recently I had lunch with a friend. When the 4 year-old announced a bathroom need, my friend nicely offered to accompany her to the women's bathroom. I thought it was nice mostly so I could keep an eye on the baby. I bring her in the men's bathroom when she needs to go again an hour or so later. I've heard from one source that parents should feel comfortable bringing their opposite-sex children in public bathrooms up to 7 years in age. I think 'M' is almost there though. Mostly, she needs to learn to flush and wash hands every time. I should probably stop dragging her into the men's room pretty soon. Am I thinking about this wrong?