People who clean up after DANA from Valencia Glass, metal or any other sharp object can be found hidden in the darkness of dirt. This can lead to cuts that can become infected. Logically, we should clean and disinfect woundsbut not forgetting that this is a special case and some additional measures need to be taken.
On the one hand, as has long been reported, there is a high risk of contracting tetanus. This is why it is recommended to ensure that all tetanus vaccination records are up to date. This is a preliminary measure, but logically it is not enough. Clostridium tetanus, bacteria that cause tetanusnot the only one to be found in the dirt. Wounds must be disinfected to prevent serious infection from occurring.
To do this, the first thing you need to do is clean the wound. clean water and soap. Once this is done, this is where those little extra measures that can make a difference come into play.
Bacteria in sludge after DANA in Valencia
Many of the bacteria found in the dirt were previously on earth. This is exactly the case Clostridium tetanus. Others reproduce from the decomposition of carcasses or even food contained in flood waters. But primarily because of the mixture with fecal water. Therefore, we cannot talk about only one type of bacteria. However, the reality is that the best survivors in this environment are those who do not need oxygen to survive and are, in fact, harmed by its presence. They are known as anaerobic bacteria.
It is found not only in the waters of the river. DANA from Valencia. In general, a lot of research has been done on mud after a natural disaster, and this is the most common type of bacteria for logical reasons since it is not a completely oxygenated environment.
For this reason, when disinfecting wounds caused by dirt, some recommend using hydrogen peroxide. The problem is that, although in the past it was the most used disinfectant, today it has almost fallen into disuse for reasons that we must take into account.
Here’s how to disinfect wounds
We have already seen that the first step is to wash the wound with soap and water. In the case of DANA, remember that the water must be clean. If running water is not available, bottled water should be used. Washing is an important part that we sometimes forget. Idaira Fuentes, family physician, explained Hypertext that this is the main measure that we all must implement before any injury. Then it will be necessary to carry out treatment. But with what?
Hydrogen peroxide is the common name for hydrogen peroxide. It is a molecule consisting of two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms. The blood contains an enzyme that facilitates the reaction that occurs separates oxygen and hydrogen present in hydrogen peroxide. Therefore, when this disinfectant comes into contact with a wound, a white foam quickly forms. This white foam is saturated with oxygen, which is very harmful to anaerobic bacteria.
However, hydrogen peroxide is also very aggressive towards healthy cells. These new cells that come into the wound promote healing. scarring may be damaged. Consequently, this may result in the wound not healing well or even getting larger. Now it is no longer used, but there are alternatives.
So what can we use?
For very dirty wounds, where there is a high likelihood that the wound contains anaerobic bacteria, some outdated guidelines still recommend hydrogen peroxide. But it’s not a very good disinfectant because of everything we’ve seen and also because it can promote the formation of blood clots, which harbor more bacteria.
If we need to treat after washing with soap and water, pediatrician Gloria Colley recommends two options. The first option, according to what he tells us, is chlorhexidine and, second, povidone-iodine.
Be that as it may, you should also seek medical help as soon as possible. The specialist will check the condition of the wound and determine whether the tetanus shot needs to be re-administered. It is important to note that this should be done for any wound caused by dirt. It doesn’t have to be a huge cut that requires 10 stitches. And above all, remember that in this case the saying is true: prevention is better than cure. Protect yourself to avoid these injuries.
Source: Hiper Textual
