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life. What formerly was a problem found primarily in hospitals, commonly acquired Staph infections are increasing in number and severity. No one knows for certain how this strain came to be so virulent and no one is certain how to prevent it. Some have speculated that it is the result of patients not finishing their courses of antibiotics, and others believe it is just an unusual genetic mutation that could not be avoided. Either way, it is a serious health risk that everyone needs to be aware of and needs to take precautions against.

Be careful to avoid all cuts, scratches and abrasions. Do not treat any such injury casually. Wash the affected area as soon as possible, treat it with topical medication, keep it covered and watch it. If it does not heal or shows any unusual discoloration or spreading, go to the doctor immediately. The sooner the infection is discovered and treated, the more likely it is to be cured. As an additional safety measure, wash your hands frequently and bath often to limit the numbers of bacteria on the skin. Now is not a good time to be casual about personal hygiene. As for Joe, he found out too late.

After losing his foot, then his leg just below the knee, and, finally, the rest of his leg to the hip, the infection found its way into Joe's body cavity. Once inside, it could not be controlled. Just six short months after stepping on that nail at the construction site, Joe succumbed to his infection and died.

This mutated bacteria has found its way into the community, it is out there, and it could be anywhere. People need to know that there no longer exists a "minor" cut or scratch, and that even the most simple of injuries could prove to be life threatening if not deadly. In the presence of the MRSA bacteria, any wound is an open invitation to serious infection. I wish more people knew. I wish Joe knew. Joe was my dad.

Learn more about this author, Stan Dyer.
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