tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.comments2023-03-31T02:53:06.437-05:00SuperbugMaryn McKennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16695106217486522993noreply@blogger.comBlogger262125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-75130145026453722872010-10-09T09:29:10.241-05:002010-10-09T09:29:10.241-05:00What about keeping supplies of benign staph in sto...What about keeping supplies of benign staph in storage and unexposed to antibiotics and inoculating patients who develop resistance with these organisms? I have watched my staph grow increasingly resistant and dangerous over the years, and only wish I had the staph I had started with to reinoculate myself and start over. Sure they would get resistant again, but it would take years, and you could theoretically keep repeating the process.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-74188621751510302412010-10-02T22:29:20.530-05:002010-10-02T22:29:20.530-05:00My child has had MRSA 17 times in 13 months. I wo...My child has had MRSA 17 times in 13 months. I would do anything for a well researched vaccine. He was treated like Ryan White in school by staff members. There is little support or compassion in the community for MRSA victims. It is terrifying to face alone. What can we do to get funding allocated for more research & treatment?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-77641608093780359412010-10-02T13:25:13.218-05:002010-10-02T13:25:13.218-05:00I contracted Pertussis this past August 2010. It i...I contracted Pertussis this past August 2010. It is now, October 2, 2010, and I am still digging myself out of this. <br />Seasoned physicians are missing the signs. As a result, adults like me, will board a plane, attend meetings, etc., infecting many along the way. I was able to figure out what I had, after sleuthing out the symptoms on the net, and listening to the sound of a cough on YouTube. A walk-in clinic treated me. However, upon re-contact with the clinic, to get help with the recovery phase - no one could offer any help or clinical advice.<br /><br />Recovery can be tricky. The Pertussis organism produces toxins, one of which specifically targets the cells in the trachea and esophagus. I continue to have a raspy, barely there speaking voice, in the third month of recovery. If an adult required a normal speaking voice or vocal skills for their work, they could be out of work, for an extended period of time. Google: Pertussis toxin esophagus, and you'll see what I mean. <br /><br />The only article I found, that finally and accurately addresses the adult "reservoir" for this bacteria, was in a Canadian newspaper. Sadly, I think most people are slow to embrace the notion, that teens and adults are/will be the population that transmits this to others. For an adult, it will possibly take months, to dig yourself out of the financial hole, created by lost work, trips to the doctor, medication (Tussinex with codine is $100.00 US for a small bottle), and weeks if not months of recovery. There appears to be a complete lack of physicians, who have hands on experience, with treating adults. The recovery phase is very difficult. I am in Orange County California. I called no less than 10 physicians, who promote themselves as infectious disease specialists. Yet none of them had any any experience with Pertussis. Seems as though a physician only needs to have experience with MRSA, to call themselves an "infectious disease specialist". <br /><br />So very glad that you recovered nicely, and can share your experience. Hope other adults do the same.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-50339617105869983102010-09-20T12:59:47.788-05:002010-09-20T12:59:47.788-05:00India, I think you may be missing the point. Now ...India, I think you may be missing the point. Now is not the time to point fingers at who is to blame. Now is the time to take any and all precautions to avoid the spread of NDM-1. We can call it North Dallas Metro -1 if you'd prefer but it won't change the fact that this could wipe us all out. I truly can't believe the nerve. Who cares where it came from?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-72361253983114015172010-09-14T07:02:27.759-05:002010-09-14T07:02:27.759-05:00Anonymous: SO according to the ICAAC presentations...Anonymous: SO according to the ICAAC presentations yesterday, here's what's so tricky. NDM-1 is currently occurring mostly in bacteria that cause UTIs. The issue will not necessarily be that the infection is <i>more virulent</i> - it will be that it is <i>less treatable, or not treatable</i>. In the case of a UTI, that might mean the ongoing infection can climb up the ureters to the kidneys and enter the bloodstream.Maryn McKennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16695106217486522993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-37527758978844967132010-09-14T00:46:28.276-05:002010-09-14T00:46:28.276-05:00Symptoms only present when open wounds?Symptoms only present when open wounds?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-80676629270942219312010-09-07T18:27:56.661-05:002010-09-07T18:27:56.661-05:00Interesting analysis of how the reporting of numbe...Interesting analysis of how the reporting of numbers can skew our view of a problem. You're right- the difference between 3,000 and 49,000 is huge! How do you correctly report that in a way that gives the big picture?Juliehttp://www.flutetrill.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-47688575242743494612010-09-07T18:18:54.821-05:002010-09-07T18:18:54.821-05:00Thanks for the reading rec. I'm always looking...Thanks for the reading rec. I'm always looking for good ones.Juliehttp://www.flutetrill.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-5771456409804840892010-08-29T22:34:33.186-05:002010-08-29T22:34:33.186-05:00Treating any disease can be dangerous, whether it&...Treating any disease can be dangerous, whether it's Lyme, Syphilis, Tuberculosis, or HIV. People with all sorts of conditions have died from medical intervention-does that mean we should stop treating everyone with a disease? <br /><br />The consequences of Lyme can be brutal -losing the ability to walk, drive, work, play, attend school, take care of a family. Many people lose their homes, as they can no longer work and insurance will not cover their treatment. <br /><br />IDSA guidelines say chronic Lyme does not exist, despite ample evidence published in credible peer-reviewed journals for years that has documented its existence in animals and man. Numerous scientists and physicians, and professional organizations disagree with IDSA's "take" on Lyme. <br /><br />According to two reports at the IDSA conference this year, the majority of treatment guidelines for all diseases are based on opinion, not evidence. Evidence-based medicine - it may be cost-saving upfront, but what occurs down the line when the taxpayers must support all the patients left permanently disabled because they didn't receive adequate treatment due to guidelines? The public must consider this quickly: Lyme disease is a huge epidemic. How long before we have millions supported by the government because we didn't take note that Lyme treatment recommendations are based on one side of the science?<br /><br />http://www.peh-med.com/content/5/1/9<br /><br />http://www.alec.org/am/pdf/ebmstatefactor.pdf<br /><br /> A large number of patients report getting better after long-term antibiotic therapy. I personally know Lyme patients who were in wheelchairs, who can now walk and have resumed their lives, after extended antibiotic treatment. Since it's accepted that latent syphilis, also caused by a spirochete, may need months to years of antibiotic treatment, where's the big surprise about Lyme patients responding to the same? <br /><br />Patients should be allowed treatment options, it should be their choice. Acne patients are prescribed antibiotics for years and nobody bats an eye. To deny treatment to patients suffering from Lyme disease- such a serious bacterial infection- is cruel and inhumane. <br /><br />Liz Schmitz<br />Georgia Lyme Disease Assoc.<br />http://www.GeorgiaLymeDisease.orgLiz Schmitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02066382123557841033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-5750476301788676572010-08-18T21:45:36.146-05:002010-08-18T21:45:36.146-05:00@Dan - the Lancet ID paper last week said that the...@Dan - the Lancet ID paper last week said that the isolates in Britain were NOT resistant to colistin, which is a pretty old and toxic drug, or to tigecycline (Tygacil), which is relatively new. Some were also susceptible to the drug aztreonam. The isolates from the US that were announced a few months ago, though, were resistant to aztreonam also.Maryn McKennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16695106217486522993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-71307890674814723732010-08-18T19:32:38.884-05:002010-08-18T19:32:38.884-05:00why do NDM-1 reports almost always say something l...why do NDM-1 reports almost always say something like 'resistant to almost all antibiotics'? what antibiotic(s) is NDM-1 not resistant to?Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10480363956061600884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-78634162301748297792010-08-18T16:06:53.309-05:002010-08-18T16:06:53.309-05:00Thank you very much for clarification and clarity....Thank you very much for clarification and clarity.<br />anneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-52760723256030837832010-08-17T22:08:36.158-05:002010-08-17T22:08:36.158-05:00This looks like media hype on the name of India......This looks like media hype on the name of India...and it's disgusting but not surprising.shilpahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15431389017530608253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-77634663249636511392010-08-16T22:41:35.440-05:002010-08-16T22:41:35.440-05:00Clearly the threat of antibiotic treatment risk ex...Clearly the threat of antibiotic treatment risk exists for use of antibiotics for all bacterial infections, not just Lyme Disease. What is interesting is that these risks are rarely brought up for antibiotic treatment for other bacterial infections, including long term prescriptions of antibiotics for conditions such as acne. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection and it has an etiology of cure with a short term course of antibiotics for the majority of patients. In some cases, and in cases where Lyme Disease is past it's early period of infection into secondary or tertiary Lyme Disease, a short course doesn't cure it and longer antibiotic treatment is needed. The Lyme bacterial infection affects numerous parts of the body, including joints and the neurological system, both difficult to treat with antibiotics. Lyme disease is not a benign infection and can cause joint complications and in some cases,disability, blindness,neurological problems including meningitis, brain lesions and seizures, heart problems and other serious consequences. <br />People are routinely treated with long term antibiotics for all sorts of bacterial infections such as ear infections, all based on clinical diagnosis, and Lyme Disease should be no different. It is true that the risks of antibiotic treatment have to be evaluated, but certainly the risks and problems of Lyme Disease as well have to be evaluated in terms of the risk associated with treatment.Elaine Cullenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08830558659591283618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-24958146837551815742010-08-16T16:54:48.575-05:002010-08-16T16:54:48.575-05:00India trashes 'superbug' report, says it&#...India trashes 'superbug' report, says it's doctored<br />cf: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-trashes-superbug-report-says-its-doctored/articleshow/6301982.cms<br /><br />CHENNAI: A day after the Lancet report on drug-resistant 'superbug' NDM-1 created a global scare, India has hit out at the study, which it said was funded by pharma companies that make antibiotics to treat such cases. <br /><br />While the Union health ministry issued a statement on Thursday which also takes offence to the naming of the bug after the national capital, the paper's Chennai-based lead author Karthikeyan Kumarasamy dissociated himself from parts of the report. <br /><br />"The study was funded by the European Union and two pharmaceutical companies, Wellcome Trust and Wyeth, which produce antibiotics for treatment of such cases. It also needs to be highlighted that several of the authors have declared conflict of interest in the publication," the health ministry said. <br /><br />Doctors have criticised the report, saying it appeared to be aimed at hitting at India's booming medical tourism that was taking away business from the West. <br /><br />Read more: India trashes 'superbug' report, says it's doctored - India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-trashes-superbug-report-says-its-doctored/articleshow/6301982.cms#ixzz0woB7FFRM<br /><br />All India datas are genuine on this matter, it is a PR propaganda to reduce the market of surgery done in India, besides if you do deeper researches you will find out that it exists in other coutries way before it was discover in India.<br /><br />This is a propaganda operation.<br /><br />Snowy OwlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-90229281912692446242010-08-16T08:59:14.516-05:002010-08-16T08:59:14.516-05:00Dear Maryn,
Can you please explain the difference...Dear Maryn,<br /><br />Can you please explain the difference between VRE and enterrococcus with NDM-1? <br /><br />I also want to compliment you on the LA times article - you write so well, for so many audiences!<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Michele Bruer RN, MSN, MTSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-35368814854711770632010-08-13T19:32:54.096-05:002010-08-13T19:32:54.096-05:00Jan - thanks for visiting and for the nice note! R...Jan - thanks for visiting and for the nice note! Regarding the LATimes story: I too find that puzzling and would like ot know what it is based on. Mind you, there are certainly some companies that find the field lucrative enough to stay in in - for instance, Cubist, who make daptomycin. (The story of the development of daptomycin is told in Superbug the book.) And it is also true that there are small biotechs working on new compounds and hoping for the big score. But overall, there are fewer companies making antibiotics than there used to be, which is why we are in the dry-pipeline situation we now are in, particularly for Gram-negatives.Maryn McKennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16695106217486522993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-70904974255521024382010-08-13T14:41:32.334-05:002010-08-13T14:41:32.334-05:00Maryn – I loved your book and really appreciate th...Maryn – I loved your book and really appreciate the clarity and timeliness of your blog posts. <br /><br />The LA Times is reporting ( http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-superbug-20100813,0,2420404.story) that the news on NDM-1 is overblown. But what really surprised me in their article was this – after mentioning two older antibiotics (colistin and Tygacil), they say: “Pharmaceutical companies are also developing a number of other new antibiotics, a market that is currently viewed as potentially lucrative.”<br /><br />The “potentially lucrative” part goes against everything I’ve read. I was wondering if that agrees with what you know. It would be good news if it’s true.Jan Hendersonhttp://www.TheHealthCulture.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-13547445121051496722010-08-10T23:08:32.472-05:002010-08-10T23:08:32.472-05:00Because - sorry, hit Send too soon - what if withi...Because - sorry, hit Send too soon - what if within"guess" you have a hospital that does basic hygiene very well? Or "search and destroy" very badly? Which is doing a better job then? My point is, we need better, more transparent data, so that we can compare "what works" between institutions and really know what is better.Maryn McKennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16695106217486522993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-21211825573006834342010-08-10T23:06:12.838-05:002010-08-10T23:06:12.838-05:00Thomas: The problem is, it's a guess (and, ano...Thomas: The problem is, it's a guess (and, another guess, could also be due to a change in the behavior of the organism, as the JAMA editorial suggests). It's a reasonable assumption — but I've not yet met a hospital that is willing to invest in a new program on the basis of a "reasonable assumption." We need better data.Maryn McKennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16695106217486522993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-65253570418469175012010-08-10T20:40:33.087-05:002010-08-10T20:40:33.087-05:00Maryn -- You can't tell from this report, but ...Maryn -- You can't tell from this report, but surely we can guess . . . well, at least I'd guess. . . that at least a significant part of the decline is linked to hospitals' renewed emphasis on basic hygiene, cleaning, hand-sanitizing, etc. spurred by the resistant S.aureus outbreak, and other hospital-acquired infections. What do you think?Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14337171200443389840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-26604438143558694792010-08-08T12:56:04.647-05:002010-08-08T12:56:04.647-05:00Hi Maryn,
Glad that you decided to cover this. An...Hi Maryn,<br /><br />Glad that you decided to cover this. Another case worth looking at is:<br /><br />Patel R, Grogg KL, Edwards WD, Wright AJ, Schwenk NM. Death from inappropriate therapy for Lyme disease. Clin Infect Dis. 2000 Oct;31(4):1107-9.<br /><br />http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/318138<br /><br />It can be very hard to communicate that prolonged and inappropriate therapy is not risk-free. We always weigh risks and benefits when prescribing any medication. If there is no benefit (as is certainly the case here), the risk, which is always non-zero, predominates.gramstainhttp://www.gramstain.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-62656514645169797492010-08-07T00:56:07.448-05:002010-08-07T00:56:07.448-05:00I haven't read your book, but thanks to your a...I haven't read your book, but thanks to your articles on this blog about antibiotic resistance and livestock, I've stopped eating meat that's not labeled "raised without antibiotics," which in practice meant cutting out 90% of the meat in my diet. People think it's weird if I explain that it's not because the meat itself will make you sick, but I do see it as a moral choice. Maybe not an imperative, but one of the most important things we can do for our (microscopic) environment.Teganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11061668467441843499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-33713348210490493662010-08-04T18:13:18.900-05:002010-08-04T18:13:18.900-05:00Tough topic to cover. It has a long history, from ...Tough topic to cover. It has a long history, from death threats to researchers (no kidding) to public demonstrations to fierce arguments on blogs. <br /><br />I'm a firm believer in the IDSA guidelines, because they are evidence based (new evidence always welcome). And I think the creation of alternative realities is not so very different than what the anti-vaccination community has done. That includes those willing to prey on people's fears by selling unproven remedies that can harm you. Infections from indwelling catheters placed for chronic antibiotics, complications form anesthesia and antibiotic allergic reactions need to be added to the list of potential things that can go wrong.DemFromCThttp://www.dailykos.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6483019915352061873.post-681677716736097772010-08-03T14:53:42.870-05:002010-08-03T14:53:42.870-05:00Has there been any news about bacteriophage therap...Has there been any news about bacteriophage therapy or other alternate<br />antimicrobial methods? Looks like we're<br />running out of bullets pretty quickly..Dark Matternoreply@blogger.com