Bacteria

To help reduce patients' risk of infection at surgical sites, Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center is implementing a new surgery preparation system. The system will be implemented Tuesday and involves the patient in the surgery preparation process. "We want to provide our surgery patients with the best possible outcome with the least risk of complications," said Byron Underwood, R.N., director of surgical services at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center. "This new surgery preparation system is geared toward preparing the patient's skin before surgery to reduce the risk of infection at the surgical site.

Summer is here, and I know we are all enjoying as many outdoor activities as possible. But we don't want to be so involved in our activities that we forget to follow some basic food safety tips. By following a couple of simple steps we can ensure that our family will have a healthy summer. Always wash your hands. That's simple enough. But remember to do it often. Bacteria are present throughout the kitchen, on cutting boards, utensils, sponges and the counter tops. Wash your hands with hot, soapy water before and after using the bathroom, changing diapers and handling pets.

Certain diseases in cattle, like pneumonia, foot rot and pinkeye are caused by bacteria. Dairy and beef cattlemen usually treat these illnesses with antibiotics. Some antibiotics kill bacteria, while others inhibit bacteria growth. It's important to know when an antibiotic will help and what drugs might work best for certain conditions. Work with your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and recommendations for the most effective treatment. Remember that antibiotics have no effect on viral infections.

Those who care for livestock in a variable climate like that of central Kentucky must always be watchful for animals who show signs of illness, and be prepared to appropriately treat any problems that may occur. Dr. Roberta Dwyer, veterinary science professor at the University of Kentucky, has offered some information about the use of antibiotics in the treatment of diseases in farm animals. Certain diseases in cattle, like pneumonia, foot rot, and pinkeye, are caused by bacteria.

Certain diseases in cattle, like pneumonia, foot rot and pinkeye are caused by bacteria. Dairy and beef cattlemen usually treat these illnesses with antibiotics. Some antibiotics kill bacteria, while others inhibit bacteria growth. It's important to know when an antibiotic will help and what drugs might work best for certain conditions. Work with your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and recommendations for the most effective treatment. Remember that antibiotics have no effect on viral infections.

If you've ever flushed a toilet and rinsed anything down a sink, odds are that you haven't given a second thought about where it all ends up. But for Jessamine Creek wastewater supervisor Van Bugg and the employees at the wastewater plant on Shun Pike, it's something that they think about all the time. "Every toilet that is flushed, everything that goes down a sanitary sewer drain ends up at the wastewater plant," Bugg said. Unlike their counterparts at the water plant, Bugg and company are into bacteria.

Millions of Americans enjoying their mid-summer break around Independence Day undoubtedly drank vast quantities of iced tea, among the other beverages of their choice. But was that iced tea safe to drink? Not too long ago, a kind of iced-tea scare swept down from Cincinnati after a restaurant-goer there received what he considered to be a bad glass of iced tea. So he kept a sample in a jar - a sample of the tea - and took it to the health department, complaining that the tea had an unpleasant odor and appearance.

For the fourth time in five years, the Nicholasville wastewater treatment plant garnered the state's top honor by receiving the 2006 Operational Excellence Award. "We were the only plant in the state of Kentucky to achieve this award," said Van Bugg, superintendent of the wastewater plant. There are 2,000 such facilities throughout the state. The criteria for winning the award is strict. "If a plant has no more than one violation of its permit that allows us to put water out to the (Town Fork)

Once buried, septic tanks often are viewed as out-of-sight, out-of-mind, but homeowners should protect them. Your septic system is one of those things that can best be described as "out of sight, out of mind. " But failing septic systems cause big trouble in Kentucky waterways and groundwater. Stormwater can carry untreated sewage off the land and into the nearest stream, river, or lake. In addition, sewage can seep into underground water systems. The high pathogen levels that result from this contamination can cause infection or disease, even for swimmers or waders.

Planning menus and preparing foods for outdoor functions are exciting and fun, but need to have extra precautions with the temperatures being so hot. Bacteria and other germs on food cause food borne illness and can grow at warm temperatures, especially between 40 degrees and 140 degrees. Therefore, the use of coolers and other well-insulated containers are a must. Use ice or reusable cold packs to keep your foods cold in a cooler, or you can even use chilled beverages in the cooler to help keep solid foods cold.

Summer is here, and I know we are all enjoying as many outdoor activities as possible. But we don't want to be so involved in our activities that we forget to follow some basic food safety tips. By following a couple of simple steps we can ensure that our family will have a healthy summer. Always wash your hands. That's simple enough. But remember to do it often. Bacteria are present throughout the kitchen, on cutting boards, utensils, sponges and the counter tops. Wash your hands with hot, soapy water before and after using the bathroom, changing diapers and handling pets.

Certain diseases in cattle, like pneumonia, foot rot and pinkeye are caused by bacteria. Dairy and beef cattlemen usually treat these illnesses with antibiotics. Some antibiotics kill bacteria, while others inhibit bacteria growth. It's important to know when an antibiotic will help and what drugs might work best for certain conditions. Work with your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and recommendations for the most effective treatment. Remember that antibiotics have no effect on viral infections.

If you've ever flushed a toilet and rinsed anything down a sink, odds are that you haven't given a second thought about where it all ends up. But for Jessamine Creek wastewater supervisor Van Bugg and the employees at the wastewater plant on Shun Pike, it's something that they think about all the time. "Every toilet that is flushed, everything that goes down a sanitary sewer drain ends up at the wastewater plant," Bugg said. Unlike their counterparts at the water plant, Bugg and company are into bacteria.

Certain diseases in cattle, like pneumonia, foot rot and pinkeye are caused by bacteria. Dairy and beef cattlemen usually treat these illnesses with antibiotics. Some antibiotics kill bacteria, while others inhibit bacteria growth. It's important to know when an antibiotic will help and what drugs might work best for certain conditions. Work with your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and recommendations for the most effective treatment. Remember that antibiotics have no effect on viral infections.

Those who care for livestock in a variable climate like that of central Kentucky must always be watchful for animals who show signs of illness, and be prepared to appropriately treat any problems that may occur. Dr. Roberta Dwyer, veterinary science professor at the University of Kentucky, has offered some information about the use of antibiotics in the treatment of diseases in farm animals. Certain diseases in cattle, like pneumonia, foot rot, and pinkeye, are caused by bacteria.

Once buried, septic tanks often are viewed as out-of-sight, out-of-mind, but homeowners should protect them. Your septic system is one of those things that can best be described as "out of sight, out of mind. " But failing septic systems cause big trouble in Kentucky waterways and groundwater. Stormwater can carry untreated sewage off the land and into the nearest stream, river, or lake. In addition, sewage can seep into underground water systems. The high pathogen levels that result from this contamination can cause infection or disease, even for swimmers or waders.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the first day in a seven-part series that looks at how students, teachers, families and businesses, even a local city, are leading the charge for a more environmentally-conscious society. To see all the stories and videos from this series, click here . It is 7:30 on a Friday morning. Chris and Mike Barton pull up to a secluded wooded area on Clark's Run, just off Goggin Lane. The serene sounds of birds and the stream almost overpower the sounds of passing cars as the Bartons make their way along the muddy stream bank.

Planning menus and preparing foods for outdoor functions are exciting and fun, but need to have extra precautions with the temperatures being so hot. Bacteria and other germs on food cause food borne illness and can grow at warm temperatures, especially between 40 degrees and 140 degrees. Therefore, the use of coolers and other well-insulated containers are a must. Use ice or reusable cold packs to keep your foods cold in a cooler, or you can even use chilled beverages in the cooler to help keep solid foods cold.

Try ordering a hamburger with extra tomatoes at McDonald's. If it's like the Stanford McDonald's they'll refuse by saying, "Honey, I'm sorry, but it's FDA recalled. I don't want to give you something to make you sick. " McDonald's and other businesses across our nation have stopped serving sliced tomatoes because of recent concerns about Salmonella food poisoning linked to uncooked tomatoes. McDonald's stopped serving sliced tomatoes as a precaution until the source of Salmonella Saintpaul, a rare type of Salmonella, is known.

For the fourth time in five years, the Nicholasville wastewater treatment plant garnered the state's top honor by receiving the 2006 Operational Excellence Award. "We were the only plant in the state of Kentucky to achieve this award," said Van Bugg, superintendent of the wastewater plant. There are 2,000 such facilities throughout the state. The criteria for winning the award is strict. "If a plant has no more than one violation of its permit that allows us to put water out to the (Town Fork)