Atypical mycobacteria

Mycobacteria are a family of small, rod-shaped bacilli that can be classified into 3 main groups for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment: - Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex which can cause tuberculosis: M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. africanum, , M. microti and M. canetti. - M. leprae which causes Hansen's disease or leprosy. - Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are all the other mycobacteria which can cause pulmonary disease resembling tuberculosis, lymphadenitis, skin disease, or disseminated disease.

Bulletins

These are documents issude by the Medichem International Technical Department to advise customers of changes to products including packagin or formulation, updated tests or possible performance issues.

Chlorhexidine

Chlorhexidine is a chemical antiseptic. It kills (is bactericidal to) both gram-positive and gram-negative microbes, although it is less effective with some gram-negative microbes. It is also bacteriostatic.

Clostridium difficile

Also known as "CDF/cdf", or "C. diff", is a species of Gram-positive bacteria of the genus Clostridium that causes diarrhea and other intestinal disease when competing bacteria are wiped out by antibiotics.

Formulation

A formulation is a mixture or substance prepared as per a formula. Formulations are made for a particular application and normally are hyperactive than its individual components when used alone.

Mud Fever

This condition affects many horses, the name of the condition tends to suggest that it might be strongly associated with the presence of mud, therefore many people presume it occurs in autumn and winter. Mud fever is known by many different names including scratches, greasy heels, cracked heels or simple dermatitis. What is it? Skin lesions on the lower leg often crusty oozy hairless red and painfull. Sometimes puss with be produced and the legs may be thickened. Many horses that suffer from this will have sore itchy scabby legs that are painful to touch. More than one leg can be affected, but is more common in the hind legs, on the pastern and spreading upwards. Muddy conditions lead to the skin being in contact with excess water for prolonged periods therefore draining the natural oils from the skin leaving it open to harmful agents.( very similar to us spending to long in the bath, all wrinkly and week.) Once the skin is weakened bacterial and fungal infections can occur. The changeable conditions a horse has to cope with, i.e from dry bedding to wet paddocks, to dirty stables and clay soil and may be sand, will have an affect on the skin health. Some additional factors that bring on mud fever could also be, Feathered legs (like on a shire), Wet Paddocks, Unsanitary conditions, Deep littering or dirty paddocks, Rough Paddocks that might scratch the legs, Abrasive particles from riding surfaces, Ill-fitting boots, on dirty legs, Harvest mite infestations, Leg mites (mange), Sunburn, Allergies. Once these have lowered the skin defences it often leads to invasions of more infectious agents such as Rain scald and Ringworm. A typical topical treatment for mud fever is to cleanse the area with a pevidine iodine scrub or a fungicidal shampoo (Equigene Shampoo), remove all crusts and then thoroughly rinse with running water, and dry. Because fungal infections can be present a cream that combats this would be applied. (Equigene Horse care cream) Legs can be bandaged or left dry in a suitable stable. . Mud fever is a very complicated condition, many factors can cause it and it takes many treatments to control it. This is where prevention and early alertness and treatment to smaller cuts, scratches and lesions is vital.

MRSA

Stands for Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and is a bacterium responsible for several difficult-to-treat infections in humans and in animals.

Ringworm

Whenever this is mentioned in livery yards a ripple of panic circulates… Ringworm is caused by a fungal infection of the superficial layer of the skin, hair and hooves. No worms are involved!! Several yeasts are involved more commonly Microsporum Canis. It is zoonosis (can be transmitted across to humans). It can be spread by direct contact between animals or by there hair, crusts on tack, grooming products, fences, stables, horseboxes, the fungi needs an entrance to infect such as a wound, and spores can remain viable for 12 months. It takes between 4 and 30 days to show signs of infection, typical ringworm is characterised by circular raised bald patches on the skin with crusts, and broken hair. The horse is sometimes itchy, and most common areas are nose, head, neck, girth area but occasionally it will spread over the whole body. The disease is self-limiting, and will resolve spontaneously in 4 weeks to 6 months, but a horse can be re-infected and break out in different spots. Treatment consists of topical antifungal preparations. (EQUIGENE Anti-Fungal Shampoo) Environmental decontamination is as important as treating the horse, because of the viability of the fungal spores in the environment, and to prevent the spread to other horses and humans. Brushes, tack and stables must be cleaned and disinfected (EQUIGENE Stable Disinfectant) and all bedding destroyed.

Sterilization

Refers to any process that effectively kills or eliminates transmissible agents (such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, spore forms, etc) from a surface, equipment, article of food or medication, or biological culture medium. Sterilization does not, however, remove prions. Sterilization can be achieved through application of heat, chemicals, irradiation, high pressure or filtration.

Triclosan

Triclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal agent that is used in our MEDISCRUB Nursing Hands.