mananas in pyjamas

This was originally posted by Gerry Stolwyk earlier on today. Next they will be putting MMN silver powder in talc.....for jock itch? Hey, now that's an idea. Don't forget, you sore it here first :)



Silver in pyjamas could combat hospital bacteria
By: Lawrence Williams
Posted: '08-FEB-07 15:20' GMT © Mineweb 1997-2006



LONDON (Mineweb.com) --Pioneering pyjamas and bed linen made with silver cloth could prove the key to limiting MRSA (a bacteria which has caused a number of illnesses and deaths to patients in UK hospitals) infections if a multi-centre trial being run by St Bartholomews Hospital in London and The London NHS Trust proves successful. If the trial is successful this could provide another outlet for silver metal. An effective trial could lead to such pyjamas and bedsheets being specified thoughout UK hospitals, and doubtless in other countries too, and have a positive impact on the silver market

Dr Peter Wilson, a Consultant Microbiologist at the Trust, believes there is strong anecdotal evidence to suggest that silver can be used to clear MRSA on the skin and therefore protect vulnerable patients. To prove his case he has enlisted the help of the Lister Hospital in Stevenage, UK and is in discussion with The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, UK to run two separate clinical trials which will take place over the next 12 months.

Silver which has an excellent safety profile, is one of the oldest anti-microbial agents known to mankind, with records stretching back to ancient Greece. It is currently used more extensively in many other parts of the world – for example the US military use silver in socks to keep them odour-free.

Dr Wilson, said: “Silver is known to be a very efficient agent against infection and also very safe. These trials will mean we can prove its effectiveness. It is already being used in a number of medical products such as plasters and even in washing machines so this is just the next logical step. If it is successful it will transform the way we tackle certain infections, particularly MRSA, and also help to cut costs as this would be a very cost effective solution compared to traditional methods.”

MRSA is a bacterium that can live completely harmlessly on the skin and in the nose of about one third of healthy people without causing any problems. However it can lead to serious infection if it enters the bloodstream.

The trial at the Lister Hospital, was started early this month. The hospital will seek to recruit 300 patients, who have tested positive for carrying MRSA on their skin, from the hospital’s general medicine and elderly care departments. They will all continue to receive their normal infection control care but in addition 150 patients will receive the silver-lined pyjamas and linen and 150 others will receive standard materials. At the end of the trial, in approximately six to twelve months, the results of the two groups will be compared to see if the silver enhanced pyjamas led to increased MRSA eradication than traditional methods.

Noel Scanlon, Acting Director of Infection Prevention and Control at East and North Hertfordshire Trust, said: “The idea behind silver in bed linen and pyjamas, which is used already in a wide range of wound dressings and in cement used during bone operations, is that its contact with the skin may help to get rid of bacteria like MRSA, thus reducing the chance of that patient, or others elsewhere in the hospital, becoming infected.

“This is an exciting project and we are very pleased to be one of the hospitals involved. While time will tell as to whether or not silver-containing bed linen and pyjamas will have the positive effect anticipated by the researchers, it cannot ever be viewed as a magic bullet that will solve the problem of healthcare-acquired infections forever. aseptic medical procedures, careful use of antibiotics and keeping the patient environment clean.”

It is hoped a second trial will take place at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital where patients who are carrying the bacterium but do not have an MRSA infection will again be split between silver-lined materials and the placebo pyjamas and sheets. The difference in this case will be that patients will not receive any additional antibiotics or other treatments to remove the MRSA bacteria from their skin. By comparing the different trials evidence should be produced to prove or refute silver’s effectiveness.

http://www.mineweb.net/gold_silver/622518.htm