ROCHESTER, Minn., June 24 — Here are
highlights from the June issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource. You may
cite this publication as often as you wish. Mayo Clinic Women’s
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Pain Prevention for Older Adults — the Shingles Vaccine
A vaccine to prevent shingles — a painful and common skin rash — has
been available for more than two years, but few people reportedly are
vaccinated.
The June issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource covers why this
vaccine, Zostavax, is recommended for adults over age 60.
Nearly everyone in this age group has had chickenpox. And the virus
that causes chickenpox, varicella-zoster virus, remains dormant in the
body’s nerves. In some people, the virus can reactivate and travel along
nerve endings to the skin. An estimated 20 to 30 percent of adults over 60
develop shingles.
Shingles usually appears as a blistering rash along one side of the
trunk, chest, back or face. The condition is particularly dangerous on the
face because it can affect the eye and lead to temporary or permanent
blindness. The most common complication of shingles is postherpetic
neuralgia, a chronic pain that can be so severe people are willing to do
just about anything to get rid of it.
The best medicine for shingles may be prevention. The Shingles
Prevention Study, a large government-funded study, found that the vaccine
prevented about 50 to 60 percent of shingles episodes in older adults. It
also prevented about 70 percent of postherpetic neuralgia cases.
The vaccine, given in a single dose, is not appropriate for adults with
weakened immune systems and those with allergies to gelatin, the antibiotic
neomycin or any component of the shingles vaccine. The vaccine is an option
for people who’ve had shingles and at least one year has passed since the
last episode.
The vaccine costs can range from $150 to $300. Private insurance
coverage varies. The vaccine is covered under the Medicare Part D drug
benefit.
Nasty Superbugs
Tips to avoid antibiotic-resistant infections
Superbugs — bacteria that are resistant to many commonly used
antibiotics — can seem scary. Antibiotic resistance means illnesses last
longer, and the risk of complications and death increases.
Many factors have contributed to the emergence of superbugs, including
overuse and misuse of antibiotics. One superbug, methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), has been a problem in health care settings
for years. In this environment, the bacteria is spread from one patient to
another via the hands of care providers or by contaminated equipment.
Increasingly, MRSA is appearing outside of hospitals and is a growing
threat. It can cause serious skin and soft tissue infections and a form of
pneumonia. Clusters of MRSA skin infections have surfaced in certain groups
of people, including athletes, children and members of the military. Risk
factors in these groups include close contact, shared equipment that isn’t
cleaned, cuts on the skin, crowded living conditions, contaminated clothes
or towels, and poor hygiene.
The June issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource offers tips to avoid
superbugs:
Wash your hands: This simple procedure, done properly, remains the best
defense. Carry alcohol-based hand sanitizers for times when hand washing
isn’t possible.
Keep personal items personal: Don’t share towels, soap, sheets, razors,
clothing or athletic equipment.
Sanitize linens: If you have a cut or abrasion, wash towels and sheets
with hot water and added bleach. Wash gym and athletic clothes after each
use.
Get infections tested: If an infection requires treatment, ask the care
provider to take a culture to confirm what bacteria are present before you
are given an antibiotic. If you test positive for a staphylococcus (staph)
infection, ask that a culture be tested specifically for MRSA in case you
need a special antibiotic.
Use antibiotics appropriately: When you take antibiotics, take all
doses even when you start feeling better. Don’t demand antibiotics for
viral illnesses; antibiotics don’t work with viruses. Taking too many
antibiotics over time could become a detriment because the medication’s
effectiveness can be compromised by overuse.
Use antibacterial products sparingly: Antibacterial soaps and cleaning
products probably don’t prevent infections at home and may make these
products less effective in hospitals.
Take precautions in the hospital: Ask all hospital staff and visitors
to wash their hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before touching
you. Ask care providers to wipe stethoscopes and other equipment with
alcohol. Don’t set food or utensils directly on tables or beds. Make sure
that intravenous tubes and catheters are inserted under sterile conditions.
Benefits of Broad Genetic Testing Still Limited
Five years ago, scientists finished mapping the complete human genetic
code, but genetic assessment of disease risk remains in its infancy,
according to the June issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource.
Scientists know that people share essentially the same genetic makeup,
differing only by one-tenth of 1 percent. By studying that small variation,
they hope to explain why one person is healthy and another sick and which
treatments are best suited for each individual.
Scientists have identified “simple” genetic disorders caused by
mutation of a single gene, for example, sickle cell anemia. Much more
research is necessary on common diseases such as cancer, heart disease and
diabetes, which are likely caused by a combination of genetic changes along
with environmental influences.
Already, some private companies are providing DNA analysis to the
public to assess disease risk. A few also offer genetic counseling and
disease prevention and screening advice.
Experts caution that current tests don’t identify all genetic variants
that combine to predict vulnerability or resistance to a disease. And even
then, an accurate test might not provide useful information. For example,
most women have an estimated 10 percent lifetime risk of breast cancer.
Some medical providers question the practicality of informing a woman her
personal risk may be slightly higher. In most cases, screening and
prevention options aren’t changed.
Though not as exciting as new technology, a careful analysis of the
extended family medical history can provide a form of genetic risk
assessment that is just as useful as newer tests.
Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource is published monthly to help women
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SOURCE Mayo Clinic