What is a Germ?

Did you know that we are constantly exposed to germs that cause disease? Sami-Designs offers ways to protect yourself and the environment against germs and bacteria that cause illness.

Germs are microbes that have been around for billions of years. They come in the form of bacteria, fungi and viruses. The naked eye is only able to see microbes once they have multiplied to the hundreds of thousands. Bacteria are single-celled organisms usually found all over the inside and outside of our bodies. Some are actually beneficial to our health and well-being. Germs are harmful bacteria and viruses that invade healthy cells, reproducing and causing illness.

The triumph of antibiotics over disease-causing bacteria is one of modern medicine's greatest success stories. Since these these drugs first became widely used first became widely used, some bacteria have developed ways to outwit the effects of antibiotics. Widespread use of antibiotics is thought to have spurred evolutionary changes in bacteria that allow them to survive these powerful drugs. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Nearly two million patients in the United States get an infection in the hospital each year;
• Of those patients, about 90,000 die each year as a result of their hospital-aquired infection (HAI);
  
• Half of antibiotic use is either unneccesary or inappropriate;
• Patients infected with drug-resistant microbes are more likely to experience longer, more expensive hospital stays or even death.

The U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services urges consumers to be judicial about their use of antibiotics, particularly in children, as such drugs are ineffective treatment for viruses that cause colds and flu. "Antibiotics show amazing results when used to treat bacterial infections, but they won't help at all against the common cold or flu," Surgeon General Richard Carmonona said. "What's worse, if people take antibiotics when they don't need them, it can make these important drugs less effective in the future."

According to the CDC, antibiotics don't work against cold and flu, their recommendations are:

• Be a patient patient. Children and adults with viral infections recover when the illness has run its course. Colds caused by viruses may last for two weeks or longer;
• Hydrate. Drink plenty of fluids, use a cool mist vaporizor or saline nasal spray to relieve congestion, and soothe sore throats with ice chips, throat spray or losenges;
• Ask. Viral infections may sometimes lead to bacterial infections. Patients should keep their doctor informed if their illness gets worse or lasts a long time. Although antibiotics are very powerful medicines and should only be used to treat bacterial infections. If an antibiotic is prescribed, make sure you take the entire course and never save the medication for later use.

Germs are transmitted through the air, blood, and through contact with an infected person. Germs multiply rapidly in warm moist places. The single most important way to keep germs at bay is frequent hand washing. To minimize the spread of disease alchohol-based and liquid disinfectant soaps are the primary defense against germs. Hands should be washed:

• after toileting/diapering;
• before preparing or eating food;
• after handling an animal;
• after covering a sneeze or cough or blowing you nose;
  
• before and after treating a sore or wound.

Diseases that are spread through the air such as colds are probably the most difficult to prevent. However it is possible to control the spread of these germs by:

1. using antimicrobial air filters in home ventilation systems;
2. washing toys and eating utensils thoroughly and frequently;
3. choosing clothing with antimicrobial protection.

Clothing with antimicrobial and antibacterial protection offers value-added protection, inhibiting the growth of bacterial odors. It also extends the useful life of the article by controlling deterioration caused by mildew. While antimicrobial clothing is not designed to protect wearers from disease-causing microorganisms, and is not a substitute for normal cleaning practices, antimicrobial clothing will not harbor bacteria  like conventional fabric garments.

Antimicrobial clothing has been in use for over 30 years in consumer, industrial and medical applications around the world. During this time there has been no evidence that the use of antimicrobial clothing and textiles lead to the development of resistant strains of germs.

Sami-Designs currently offers a naturally antimicrobial base-layer protection in men's and women's t-shirt tops and tanks.


published March 7, 2006  
written by Bonnie Siefers
Owner/Designer
jonano
bamboo and antimicrobial fashions
A division of Sami Designs, LLC

Copyright 2006 Sami Designs, LLC All Rights Reserved.
ecoKashmere trademark application pending.
Comfort with Benefit trademark application pending.