Hiatus

Due to family events, I'll be going on hiatus for a few months. My sister is unfortunately dealing with a particularly nasty skin cancer and is undergoing treatment for it, but is not expected to live much past another month. She's been hospitalized and wants me to visit her in Alabama. I won't be posting again for a while, sorry... :(

Epidemic Warning

There have been increased cases of Masque MRSA strain infection in the western and central United States. The bacteria has been found in hospitals in the following states: California, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma, North and South Dakota, Colorado. It is believed that unwashed meats and produce from these states may be spreading the strain even to healthy people due to an increase in food poisoning cases caused by this bacteria.

Please, please be sure to wash any fruits and vegetables you purchase, and cook all meat thoroughly! Wash your hands and be sure to practice basic hygiene - you can spread the Masque strain without even realizing you've got it on you. If at any point you believe that a wound may be infected with this MRSA strain, seek medical attention. Do not wait - this bacteria causes tissue necrosis and can easily kill even healthy people who wait too long. Stay safe and healthy, readers!

Back on Track, and a New Development...

Back to work, finally! Hope all my readers stayed safe during the flooding these past few weeks - I know it's been a mess for me. Hopefully it hasn't been one for you, too - I know some districts are still dealing with floodwater damage.

Today, I checked on the previously treated samples from a week ago. It seems the experimental quinolone I treated them with has killed nearly all but the most resistant colonies. Success! I'll definitely be trying more trials with that antibiotic and others like it, just to be sure.

I also checked on my pet project with the penicillium and two different Staph strains, and discovered something... interesting. I know for a fact I swabbed some mold spores on there, but when I went to check, all I found were little brown colonies of the Masque strain of bacteria. I also had coughed on the plate, to be sure of other bacterial growth, and noticed there were some other unidentified colonies, but very few of them. This seems to indicate that the Masque strain is particularly persistent in crowding out other bacteria, and perhaps is even preventing them from growing entirely. I'll check the pet project again next week to see if anything new happens, but unless something big occurs I'll be devoting all my time to my research.

Local Warning

Due to heavy flooding from snow melt, the Maryland area has become flooded in many districts, including the one my lab's located at. Unfortunately, this has caused the lower floor of the CDC building to be shut down, meaning I can't get into work and check my samples until the mess is cleaned up. The samples will be fine; they're kept in a sterile environment so no more contamination can happen, and I'm always the last one to lock up at night, so I know things are safe in there.

Until the floodwaters cede, stay safe and make sure to drink only bottled water, as it's likely that many water sources have been contaminated. I know there was a nasty water main and sewage pipe break over on 52nd, backing things up in that district. Keep safe and try to stay dry, guys. :)