Overuse of Antibiotics Spurs Vicious Cycle

June 10 2010
Patients who are over-prescribed antibiotics may develop drug resistance that la
sts up to a year. This puts both them and the larger population at risk.
The more antibiotics are prescribed for coughs and flu-like illnesses, the more
bacteria become resistant in a vicious cycle.
According to Reuters:
"Medical experts say overuse of antibiotics in Europe, the United States and
other wealthy regions is building widespread resistance in and threatening vita
l medical treatments from hip replacements and cancer therapies, to intensive ca
re."
Sources:
Reuters May 18, 2010
------------------------------------
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
There's much talk about the seriousness of antibiotic-resistant disease, yet
few actually take it into consideration when making day-to-day health- and diet
ary decisions for their families.
It's easy to think that one more round of antibiotics won't hurt. In fact, m
any believe it's absolutely necessary for nearly all infections. And it's a rare
person that gives any thought at all to the fact that eating factory farmed mea
t fuels antibiotic-resistant disease.
But this is where it needs to start within the home of each and every one of
us.
The Staggering Statistics of Lethal Antibiotic-Resistant Infections
Although doctors are urged to limit antibiotic prescriptions, as long as peo
ple ask to get them for every ear-, nose-, throat- or urinary infection they may
have, the habitual prescribing of potent antibiotics is not likely to cease.
The knee-jerk decision to ask your doctor for antibiotics for every minor in
fection adds to the toll these drugs exact on public health, and it's a signific
ant one.
Did you know that antibiotic-resistant infections now claim more lives each
year than the "modern plague" of AIDS?
It's hard to believe, but according to a study published in October, 2007 in
the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), there were close to 100
,000 cases of invasive Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infect
ions in the United States in 2005, which lead to more than 18,600 deaths.
HIV/AIDS, meanwhile, killed 17,000 people that same year.
And when you include ALL resistant infections, not just MRSA, the numbers be
come even more staggering.
Approximately 1.7 million Americans contracted infections during hospital st
ays in 2007, and a subsequent 100,000 people perished from these diseases, accor
ding to the U.S. Center of Disease Control (CDC).
 It's also costing the American health care system more than $1.87 billion a
year to treat these drug-resistant bacteria, according to Reuters.
As long as we continue using bazookas to eradicate mosquitoes, which is esse
ntially what you're doing when using potent antibiotics for minor infections, th
is trend of creating ever more resistant strains of infections will continue.
Keep in mind that, according to this latest meta-analysis, the health risk f
rom over-use of antibiotics is also a very personal one, as opposed to simply ra
ising the occurrence of antibiotic resistance in the general population over tim
e.
Reuters reports:
"The more antibiotics are prescribed for coughs and flu-like illnesses,
or urine infections, the more bacteria become resistant in a vicious cycle, said
British researchers who analyzed 24 previous studies of antibiotic resistance.
"The effect is greatest in the month immediately after treatment, but ma
y last for up to a year, and this residual effect may be a driver for high level
s of resistance in the community."
What this boils down to is that whenever you use an antibiotic, you're incre
asing your susceptibility to developing infections with resistance to that antib
iotic and you can become the carrier of this resistant bug, and spread it to oth
ers.
" The more we prescribe, the more the bacteria become resistant," says le
ad researcher Alastair Hay. "And really the only way of turning that vicious cyc
le into a virtuous circle is to only prescribe when it is absolutely necessary i
n the first place." [Emphasis mine.]
Naturally, this issue needs to be addressed on a large scale, by doctors and
hospitals, but I urge you to also take personal responsibility and evaluate you
r own use of antibiotics, and avoid taking them -- or giving them to your childr
en -- unless absolutely necessary.
How Your Dietary Choices Come into Play
Compounding the problem is that not only are potent antibiotics over-prescri
bed in modern medicine, they are also widely over-used in agriculture.
In fact, agricultural uses account for about 70 percent of all antibiotic us
e in the US, so it's a MAJOR source of human antibiotic consumption.
Animals are often fed antibiotics at low doses for disease prevention and gr
owth promotion, and those antibiotics are transferred to you via meat, and even
via the manure used as crop fertilizer.
Some countries have realized the hazard inherent in this and have opted for
a healthier approach to raising their livestock. Denmark, for example, stopped t
he widespread use of antibiotics in their pork industry 12 years ago. After they
implemented the ban on antibiotics, a Danish study confirmed that it had drasti
cally reduced antibiotic-resistant bacteria in animals and food.
So, reducing the spread of antibiotic-resistant disease is yet another reaso
n for making sure you're only eating grass-fed, organically-raised meats.
Every so often, I'm criticized for recommending eating meat. But it's import
ant to remember that I ONLY recommend meat from organic, grass-fed, free-range,
humanely raised animals.. They are far superior to conventionally farmed meats i
n terms of quality and nutritional content, and second, they're not treated with
antibiotics and other growth hormones.
So, please, understand that any time I discuss meat consumption, it is with
the explicit understanding that I only promote humanely raised, organically farm
ed livestock that have roamed free, feeding on their natural food source, withou
t any use of antibiotics and other growth-promoting drugs typically used in conv
entional farming.
So keep in mind that in addition to enjoying better health, becoming an educ
ated consumer and selecting organic meats over conventionally-raised meats will
help quell the rise of antibiotic-resistant disease.
Natural Approaches to Preventing MRSA
Aside from the long-term preventive strategies of avoiding frivolous use of
antibiotics for minor infections, and opting for antibiotic-free, organic meats,
there are also several sound methods that can greatly hinder the spread of infe
ctious disease on a day-to-day basis:
1. Wash Your Hands ... and Make Sure Your Doctor Does Too
Handwashing, which is one of the oldest and most powerful antibacterial tr
eatments, may be the key to preventing MRSA.
According to a Johns Hopkins study, the best way for patients to avoid suc
h infections is for doctors and nurses to simply wash their hands before touchin
g a patient. This is the most common violation in hospitals!
Be sure to use a mild soap, and avoid all antibacterial soaps as they typi
cally contain triclosan, a dangerous chemical that can cause even more resistant
bacteria. More importantly, antibacterial agents are not necessary for soap to
work.
Studies have shown that people who use antibacterial soaps and cleansers d
evelop a cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever, vomiting, diarrhea and other sym
ptoms just as often as people who use products that do not contain these antibac
terial ingredients. In other words they are unnecessary and can cause you additi
onal problems.
Guidelines to proper hand-washing include:
* Wash your hands for 10 to 15 seconds with warm water
* Use plain soap
* Clean all the nooks and crannies of your hands, including under fing
ernails
* Rinse thoroughly under running water
* In public places use a paper towel to open the door as a protection
from germs that harbor on handles
2. Avoid Sharing Your Personal Items
Since infection can spread by contact with contaminated objects, keep pers
onal items like towels, clothing, bed linens, athletic equipment, razors and mor
e to yourself.
3. Use Natural Disinfectants
As with antibacterial hand soaps, antibacterial house cleaners are also be
st avoided. A natural all-purpose cleanser that works great for kitchen counters
, cutting boards and bathrooms is 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and vinegar. Just
put each liquid into a separate spray bottle, then spray the surface with one, f
ollowed by the other.
4. Eat Garlic
Researchers have found that allicin, the active compound in garlic, is an
effective, natural "antibiotic" that can eradicate even antibiotic-resistant bug
s like MRSA. An added benefit is that the bacteria appear incapable of developin
g a resistance to the compound.
Keep in mind that the garlic must be fresh! The active ingredient is destr
oyed within one hour of smashing the garlic, so garlic pills are virtually worth
less and should not be used.
Instead, compress the garlic with a spoon prior to swallowing it (if you a
re not going to juice it). If you swallow the clove intact you will not convert
the allicin to its active ingredient.
Of course, there may be other effective strategies than the ones I just me
ntioned.
If you know of any others that would be helpful for preventing the spread
of infections, I encourage you to add your comment below. If you aren't already
registered it will literally only take a moment to register so you can post your
own words of wisdom