2018 - widespread staph infections in the San Pedro Itzicán area
Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria, types of germs commonly found on the skin or in the nose of even healthy individuals. Most of the time, these bacteria cause no problems or result in relatively minor skin infections.
But staph infections can turn deadly if the bacteria invade deeper into your body, entering your bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs or heart. A growing number of otherwise healthy people are developing life-threatening staph infections. Treatment usually involves antibiotics and drainage of the infected area. However, some staph infections no longer respond to common antibiotics.
Anita, head of the Brigada, was noticing people with sores and lesions, in August 2018. Over 60 people came to get treatment when a volunteer doctor, Dr. Carlos Clemente Orozco, from Chapala, and organized by staff of the Internacional Institute, came to San Pedro and diagnosed the problem.
These are just some of the photos taken of children now being treated for staph infections.
Dr Carlos visited one of the local schools in San Pedro Itizcán on Thursday, December 13, 2018. Out of 400 children, aged 4 to 6, who were checked at the school, 86 had symptoms of staph infection! Dr Carlos has donated many medicines, but is not able to provide them for so many children. And if they have staph infection, probably their siblings and maybe their parents have it as well.
If you want to help by providing medicines or support for the doctor to prescribe antibiotics, please click here.
Si desea ayudar proporcionando medicamentos o apoyo para que el médico le prescriba antibióticos, por favor haga clic aquí.
The Brigada organization held an information workshop on the prevention of staph infections on Thursday, December 20, 2018 in San Pedro Itzicán. Hopefully the community will learn from this.