Bacterial Infections

Antibiotic-Resistant Disease Killing Humans and Swine

Health officials said the bacteria is being
transmitted to humans through pigs. The
increased use of antibiotics in agriculture may
be behind the spread of the resistant strain.

What are ESBLs?

Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBLs) are
actually enzymes produced by certain types of
bacteria, which renders the bacteria resistant
to the antibiotics commonly used to treat them.

ESBLs were first discovered in the mid-1980s. At
the time they were mostly found in the
Klebsiella species of bacteria, in hospital
intensive care units. Until recently, few people
were affected by these mutated bacteria and it
didn't appear to be a major growing concern.

That has changed, however. According to the
British Health Protection Agency (HPA), a new
class of ESBL (called CTX-M enzymes) has emerged,
which are now being widely detected among E.Coli
bacteria. These ESBL-producing E. Coli are
resistant to penicillins and cephalosporins, and
are becoming more frequent in urinary tract
infections.

Other species of bacteria that can now produce
ESBLs include:

K. pneumoniae
K. oxytoca
Salmonella
Proteus mirabilis
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
The Problem is Worse Than You Think!

According to a study published 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) infections in the United States
in 2005, which lead to more than 18,600 deaths.

To put that number into perspective, HIV/AIDS
killed 17,000 people that year.

Antibiotic-resistant disease IS a major man-made
problem.

This was the study that propelled MRSA into the
news last year, combined with a number of school
outbreaks that took place around the same time.
Discussions focused largely on reducing medical
over-use of antibiotics, and proper hygiene such
as washing your hands with soap and water to
reduce the spread of infectious disease.

But little has been said about the rampant
over-use of antibiotics in agriculture, which is
a MAJOR source of human antibiotic consumption,
and hence increased antibiotic resistance.

Agriculture as a Source of Antibiotic Resistance

Both MRSA and ESBL are being traced back to
animals raised for food production, especially
pigs.

These animals are often fed antibiotics at low
doses for disease prevention and growth promotion.
Animals receiving antibiotics in their feed gain
4 to 5 percent more body weight than animals that
do not receive antibiotics, but the price is high
for you, the end consumer, because this practice
also creates the perfect conditions for antibiotic
resistance to flourish.

Denmark's health officials claim they're unsure of
how farmers and veterinarians, who have not
consumed infected meat, are becoming infected.
However, according to research cited on Johns
Hopkins website, the main reservoir of these
organisms is in the lower digestive tract, and
they can persist within the gastrointestinal tract
for months. So perhaps the answer doesn't have to
be all that complicated.

So, the meat industry practice of using antibiotics
is indeed a driving force behind the development of
antibiotic resistance in a now wide variety of
bacteria that cause human disease.

The long stalemate on this issue constitutes a
struggle between strong science and bad politics.
The FDA finally banned the use of fluoroquinolones
- a widely used class of antimicrobials -- from
agricultural use August 1997, but not without the
Bayer Corporation kicking and screaming in vehement
opposition. After all, antibiotics for livestock
use is big business. It constitutes about 70
percent of ALL antibiotic use! They couldn't
replace that market with human consumers even if
they tried.

Other Agricultural Sources of Antibiotics

Another heavily tainted meat product you should stay
away from is conventionally raised chicken. A 2006
study published in the Journal of Infectious
Diseases found that bacteria from conventional
chicken and from people who ate the chicken became
resistant to Synercid, a strong antibiotic used to
treat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In essence, it
can cause resistance to the last lines of defense
currently available in the modern medicine cabinet.

It also found that it was rare to find resistant
bacteria among antibiotic-free chicken, while the
majority of bacterial isolates from conventional
poultry were resistant.

But, the ramifications of using antibiotics in
agriculture don't end there. Antibiotics filter
down through the food chain in sometimes
non-suspecting ways.

Antibiotics are also being transferred, via
manure, into your food supply.

A 2007 study in the Journal of Environmental
Quality looked at whether food crops will
accumulate antibiotics from soil covered with
antibiotic-containing manure.

In a greenhouse setting, corn, lettuce and
potatoes were grown on soil that contained hog
manure with a commonly used veterinary
antibiotic added.

The antibiotics were absorbed by all three
crops, into both their leaves and tissue.
Meanwhile, the antibiotics also transferred to
the potato tubers, suggesting that root crops
like carrots, radishes and potatoes may be
particularly at risk of antibiotic accumulation.

These findings unfortunately also have
implications for organic farmers, who often use
manure as their main source of fertilizer. And,
as it stands, manure that contains antibiotics
is still allowed under the organic label.

How to Avoid Excessive Antibiotic Exposure

So how can you ensure that the food you feed to
yourself and your family is pure and healthy?

Apart from growing it yourself, your best option
is to get to know a local farmer near you -- one
who uses non-toxic farming methods. If you live
in an urban area, there are increasing numbers of
community-supported agriculture programs available
that give you access to healthy, locally grown
foods even if you live in the heart of the city.

If you are looking for a safer alternative to
commercially raised beef please be sure to check
out grass-fed beef. Grass-fed cattle are not
routinely fed antibiotics. They may occasionally
receive them for an infection, but that would be
the rare exception, and even then they are only
used for a few days.

=====
"Natural" is best, organic superior, and to
learn how to undo the negative effects already
suffered you, visit
http://januszek13.omc888.hop.clickbank.net

(ArticlesBase ID #1272599)

JanuszJanulis
© 2003-2009 World Marketing Media, Inc.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/antibioticresistant-disease-killing-humans-and-swine-1272599.html

No Comment  

How to Get Rid of Vaginal Odors Naturally Without Antibiotics

Most adult women will suffer from vagina odors at some point in their lives. For some, this is nothing more than a passing phase but for others, it can be a persistent problem which never really goes away.

If you are one of the many women wanting to know how to get rid of vagina odors, there are a few simple, natural strategies you can try which should help get you back to feeling fresh. Sometimes these will be all you need to stop the problem in its tracks.

One common cause of vagina odors is overwashing. This can strip the vaginal area of its natural lubricants which can cause excessive discharge and unpleasant smells. Try to wash no more than twice daily and only use an unperfumed soap. If discharge is a particular problem, gently wipe it away with an unperfumed baby wipe, without rubbing the delicate tissues of the vagina.

Some women experience unpleasant vagina odors during their monthly periods and this is due to the fact that stale blood can develop a bad smell when exposed to the air. Simply ensure that you change your sanitary protection regularly, even when the flow is light. Also, ensure that you always remove the last tampon of your period.

One simple strategy for women wanting to know how to get rid of vagina odors is to wear thin panty pads during the day. These can help to absorb some of the odor and discharge and can be changed regularly over the course of the day, which is really beneficial if you are in a work environment.

For those in an intimate relationship, always ensure that your partner wears a condom. Sperm is naturally alkaline in nature and as a healthy vagina is slightly acidic, sperm can upset the natural balance, causing unpleasant vaginal odor.

If you also have other symptoms, such as a gray or white watery discharge along with itching and burning around the vagina, it is highly likely that you have the common condition, bacterial vaginosis which is caused by an imbalance of the naturally occurring bacteria in the vagina.

Prompt action is always a good idea if you have BV as although not dangerous in the early stages, if left untreated bacterial vaginosis can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and even infertility.

If you would like to read further comprehensive information about how to get rid of vagina odors naturally and see 3 guaranteed strategies which will show you how to cure bacterial vaginosis for good, please visit my website, Home Remedies For Bacterial Vaginosis

.

(ArticlesBase ID #1240805)

Marie is an advocate of natural remedies and researches and writes about many related issues. With a particular interest in women's issues, bacterial vaginosis is a condition which she believes is very much ignored by the medical profession and she feels that many practitioners do not appreciate how much this can affect a sufferer's life. She feels that this condition can be best treated with natural remedies and has seen much success in this respect.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/women's-health-articles/how-to-get-rid-of-vaginal-odors-naturally-without-antibiotics-1240805.html

No Comment  

Natural Cure for Bacterial Vaginosis

Many women who are trying to cure their bacterial vaginosis and the odor that comes along with it are using simple natural cures. If you turn to products like perfume to mask the odor, you may be killing valuable good bacteria in your vagina and possibly making your condition even worse than it was before.

Get Best Home Remedies For Bacterial Vaginosis

The symptoms of bacterial vaginosis, otherwise known as BV, can be easily masked using less harsh home remedies such as making sure to wear cotton clothing and underwear that will allow the skin on your vagina to breath and stay cool. It'll also help keep bad bacteria from building up in your vagina, which happens when you wear panties that are too tight.

Another one of the bacterial vaginosis natural cures is to make sure you clean your vagina often with fresh, clean water to keep bacteria filled liquids from building up there. Keep in mind that the liquid that you are washing away in this process does contribute to the cause of the odor you smell, but is not actually harmful to your health. In frequently cleaning the bacteria filled liquid from your vagina, you are employing one of the best techniques to getting rid of your BV and also helping to keep the odor at bay.

Using a mixture of vinegar, salt and water to wash your genital area is also cited as one of the effective bacterial vaginosis natural cures. The vinegar will work to kill any lingering bad bacteria with its acidity, and the solution will work wonders in covering the pesky odor casude by bacterial vaginosis.

Get Best Home Remedies For Bacterial Vaginosis

(ArticlesBase ID #1253253)

Diet and Weight Loss Tips

Strip That Fat Diet - This is a very fun and easy online diet. It consists of an online diet generator which lets you create your own meal plans, 2 diet books, a recipe book and a calories guide.

Master Cleanse Recipe - Master Cleanse Diet is sometimes known as the Lemonade Diet. It has become very popular since Beyonce Knowles publicly stated that this diet allowed her to lose huge amounts of weight.

Easy Veggie Meal Plans - is a fat loss system that shows you how to make delicious, filling, and healthy vegetarian meals that will help you burn belly fat fast while improving or maintaining your health and energy.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/natural-cure-for-bacterial-vaginosis-1253253.html

No Comment