Natural Health

Archive for the ‘Drug Resistant Bacteria’ Category

Antibiotics are drugs used to kill bacteria that can cause illness and disease. Have made an important contribution to human health. Many diseases that once killed people can now be treated effectively with antibiotics. However, some bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics commonly used.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are bacteria that are not controlled or killed by antibiotics. They are able to survive and multiply, even in the presence of an antibiotic. Most infections caused by bacteria may be less resistant to certain antibiotics. The bacteria that are resistant to many antibiotics are known as multi-resistant (MROS).

Antibiotic resistance can cause serious illness and is a major public health problem. Can be avoided by reducing prescribing and overprescribing of antibiotics, appropriate use of antibiotics and good hygiene practices and infection control.

Natural resistance

Some bacteria are naturally resistant to certain antibiotics. For example, benzyl penicillin has little effect on most organs of the human digestive system (intestines).

Some bacteria are resistant to antibiotics that once killed

Some bacteria have developed resistance to antibiotics used to treat them once. For example, Staphylococcus aureus (golden staph) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (the cause of gonorrhea) are almost always resistant to benzyl penicillin. In the past, these infections are usually controlled by penicillin.

The main concern of antibiotic resistance is that some bacteria have become resistant to available antibiotics. These bacteria can cause serious illness and is a major public health problem. Important examples are methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and multi-drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

How do you kill a superbug? Certain types of bacteria, such as MRSA, creep around hospitals, and are resistant to drugs. Of the various types of “superbugs,” MRSA is the most common one. MRSA is resistant to several types of antibiotics, including penicillin and penicillin-like drugs. This type of bacteria is harmless until it penetrates your body, potentially causing several harmful results.

VIRUS VS SUPERBUG

Researchers are testing the effectiveness of a particular virus, in killing bacteria that are resistant to drugs. Staphylococcus aureu is a type of bacteria that can cause various symptoms, including:

•    meningitis
•    pneumonia
•    skin wounds
•    toxic shock syndrome

Also known as “staph,” this type of bacteria annually infects roughly half a million patients in U.S. hospitals! MRSA is the so-called “superbug,” which is almost 300% more dangerous than other types of drug-resistant bacteria. One group of researchers in Italy is testing the effectiveness of a type of virus called “bacteriophages” or “phages.” This virus can kill bacteria, yet is harmless to humans.

OF MICE AND VIRUSES

What did the researchers discover? First, they pinpointed a particular type of phage that kills the staph bacteria. Their next step was to inject lab mice with either lethal dosages or non-lethal dosages. The lethal doses saved the lives of 97% of the mice. Meanwhile, the non-lethal dosages of the virus completely ended the staph infections. Within time, the bacteria created a resistance to combat the phages.

While phages are less expensive and easier to prepare than antibiotics are, phages also contain a major drawback. It is improbable that a phage will destroy all MRSA strains in an animal or person. To solve this problem, doctors can use a cornucopia of phages, with each of them destroying different strains of staphs. Thus, we should consider phages as a viable weapon in the war against bacteria.

HUMAN GUINEA PIGS

Researchers are thrilled about the possibility of using phages to combat bacteria in humans. They hope soon to begin testing the impact of phages, on humans with staph infections. With MRSA alone resulting in at least 80,000 U.S. hospital deaths annually, the news is welcome to both medical staff and patients.

STAMPING OUT STAPHS-THE ALERNATIVES

Other proven methods in hospitals are also effective in stamping out the spread of staph infections. These include basic steps to ensure that hospitals maintain an environment of cleanliness. Sterilizing all medical tools and wearing hygienic scrubs, such as cheap urbane scrubs, can also effectively reduce the transmission of staphs-including the superbug. In this case, the adage that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of curse,” holds true. Reducing the population of superbugs will help to reduce their rate of infection.

Fortunately, researchers have discovered a type of virus that can help to combat those creepy critters in hospitals, known as “superbugs.” However, it is unlikely that the virus will become a panacea for eliminating staph infections. Thus, we must do more. Taking precautionary steps can help to prevent superbugs from becoming super dangerous!

The Mexican government passed a new law a few months ago requiring that all consumers who purchase antibiotics must present an original prescription from a certified Mexican doctor.  This means no citizen, resident or tourist in Mexico is allowed to just walk into a pharmacy in Mexico and buy whatever antibiotic they choose without first visiting a doctor.  Although this new decree makes it more difficult for many to treat simple illnesses like travelers diarrhea by simply purchasing Cipro (ciprofloxacin – an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections), the law appears to be well-intended and may actually do some good.

A couple of months ago while we were in the US Allan’s American doctor recommended Allan take Cipro for a week to cure a minor medical condition.  Allan decided to pick up the drug when we returned to Playa del Carmen as it was less expensive (and we were unaware of the new law). When Allan sent me to the pharmacy in Mexico I was stunned that the pharmacists would not sell it without a prescription.  They mentioned a new law passed and pointed to a sign explaining the new legislation.  I unsuccessfully tried 4 different pharmacies, hoping one would ignore the law.

At first we viewed the law with a bit of disdain.  Is Mexico finally trying to be a first world country by passing protective legislation?  What about all us gringos who want to easily buy antibiotics without a hassle?  This is the country where construction workers toil in dangerous and inhospitable environments with often little or no protection.  Why not worry about them?  Why decide to regulate and control prescription drugs?  Why not focus on something else that might actually have a positive impact, like creating safer work environments?

Our opinion has since changed after speaking with a local Mexican doctor.  According to him the Mexican legislature was faced with a financial crisis and felt compelled to act.  Many sick were incorrectly self-medicating themselves with antibiotics, often with the wrong dosage or completely wrong medicine.  Consequently the state sponsored hospitals were seeing a rise in the amount of patients who required stronger, and hence more expensive, antibiotics because the bacteria was becoming resistant to the antibiotics.  Through improper use and dosage, the sick were essentially not killing the bacteria, but rather making it stronger.  Hypothetically 8 out of every 10 patients would now need the more expensive drug and the state would have to pay for it.  Additionally, by now requiring people to first visit a doctor the state would essentially help to control proper diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, thus also providing more public safety and cutting cost by hopefully having less sick.

Although the new prescription drug law makes it more difficult for us to treat minor illnesses on our own, it does help us to correctly treat our medical problems and hopefully stop the stem of antibiotic resistant bacteria.  Hopefully the government will be able to cut costs and put the money to good use, like stemming drug violence.  A routine visit from a doctor is probably a good idea anyway, even if it is not the most convenient.

The new law also has allowed me to experience the humor of living in Mexico.  Yesterday at the pharmacy the technician was pointing to a line item on the prescription and indicated that it was not in their system.  Written in English were the words “plenty of fluids”.  I explained that it meant the patient should drink more water.  When the technician could not find in their system another item on the list I joking said it meant “kiss more girls”.

Drug-resistant yeast infections, as the name implies, are yeast infections that have reached a stage where the infection, or the rather the cause of it, has managed to build-up a resistance to the drug-based medication(s) being used at the time. This makes the drug(s) ineffective and allows the infection to prosper.

The yeast-like fungus that causes the symptoms of yeast infection is called ‘candida albicans’ and can be found naturally in our bodies. It resides in the intestines, the vagina, mouth, anus, skin, under the fingernails, almost anywhere; although the dark, warm, moist areas are it’s favorite. Normally, you ‘friendly’ bacteria keeps it from spreading (overgrowing) and causing yeast infections.

Your good bacteria are an important element in your body’s natural defenses. But when their numbers are reduced, your natural defenses suffer, so that the candida fungus has the chance to ‘overgrow’ thus causing the symptoms of yeast infection. Two of the things that cause this to occur are antibiotics overuse and a lowered immune system. In other words your natural defenses are compromised.

The problem occurs when you use drug-based creams, gels, pessaries, etc., that are applied directly to the localized symptoms, for example, your vagina. After a week or two when your symptoms disappear you come off the treatment. But, for many women, that’s only eliminated the local symptoms: there’s still the fungus in their intestines. So what happens is that the yeast infection continues to spread and the local symptoms come back again.

So you start-up with the drug-based topical creams again and after 1 or 2 weeks you think you’re clear, so you stop. But you still haven’t addressed the internal infection, so at some time in the future the infection is likely to return. So you start on the drugs…It’s a vicious cycle that over time can allow the fungus to become drug-resistant.

But you can use natural remedies to tackle drug-resistant yeast infections. Natural remedies don’t have the negative aspects of drugs, so many more women are turning to them for a better outcome. But of course, as well as the symptoms, you need to address the underlying issues that affect your body’s natural defences. Without this it’ll be very hard to cure your infection. This may include changing to a healthier diet and making some adjustments to your lifestyle.