MRSA occurs most frequently among persons in healthcare facilities and hospitals. Furthermore, some patients are at higher risks for MRSA, such as: patients having prolonged hospital stays, patients enclosed in an ICU (intensive care unit) or burn unit, patients who've had recent surgery; and even those who've had minor hospital procedures such as urinary or intravenous catherization.

Purportedly, rough estimates of persons hospitalized each year for MRSA infections number as much as 100,000.

* Are you at risk for MRSA? MRSA can be key invader that causes abscesses; boils, pneumonia, bone infections, and can even contaminate cuts such as accidental wounds or surgical incisions made by catheters or other surgical procedures. Initially, MRSA is a local infection, but can rapidly introduce dangerous toxins into body's blood causing blood poisoning.

* How is MRSA Prevented? Because MRSA is most commonly spread through skin contact, it can be widely contained by adhering to simple hygienic practices. Using proper hand washing and sufficient staff training can almost nearly eliminate possibility of patients contracting MRSA. In addition, avoiding physical contact with other people's wounds or contaminated wound material is helpful in preventing MRSA infection.

If you think you have a staph or MRSA infection, you should see your healthcare provider immediately. Delaying medical care can result in death.

For more than two decades. Dr. Robert Atkins preached and sold gospel of protein is good for you. And carbohydrates are evil. Until recently, this line of thinking was beyond pale. Now there is some new evidence. That backs idea that a high- protein. Low-carbohydrate diet. May accurately help you lose weight.

Whether such a diet that also includes bacon, steaks, butter, cheese. And other foods with plenty of saturated fat is good for your overall health is another matter.

In theory, a high-protein/low carbohydrate diet could help increase your satiety. A feeling of fullness that comes with eating. Fewer carbohydrates could also avoid fast and high rises. And falls in your blood sugar. Which may also keep your hunger at bay. Together, these could help you avoid overeating. Making you satisfied with fewer calories.

That's theory. Unfortunately, there are few good long-term studies to test it. Short-term studies have shown low- carbohydrate diets to be safe in short term. But your weight loss is due mostly to a reduced caloric intake. Not necessarily to low-carbohydrate nature of diet. Such reductions often happen when you drastically change what you eat.