Wednesday, 25 November 2009

Superbug: Antibiotic misuse in animals - one example

Superbug: Antibiotic misuse in animals - one example

1 comment:

Medifix said...

American Academy of Microbiology Report begins: The struggle against antibiotic resistance is "A War We Will Never Win", so did my video published at Medica 2006, Germany. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-lxWqP1JJk

This news is very depressing because I have been warning medical device manufacturers that we as doctors will find it ethically uncomfortable. Healthy adults and children are vulnerable and are likely to die from these infections.

Alcohol manufacturers are said to have used higher concentration of antibiotics during fermentation process. This has resulted in colonisation of resistant strain of bacteria in alcohol. Biocides are also not working and the worst report I have read is that water and sewers are also colonized. Simple hand washing, using alcohol gel or biocides to prepare skin may not help prevent these spreading infections in our hospitals.

I noticed simple practical procedures like inserting cannula (drips), catheters and endotracheal tube are all associated with increased incidence of invasive MRSA. The evidence provided by the hospital to prepare protocols for all invasive procedures were based on studies conducted in 1990s.

Since we started our fight to help reduce this threatening infection, we have seen millions of people die and Billions of $ wasted because medical device and drug manufacturers never understood the gravity of this threat.

We know all invasive practical procedures, operations, plastic surgery; transplant surgery, hip or knee replacement, open heart surgery, bypass and minor surgical procedures will soon come to a grinding halt. The very technology we’ve created to help us live more comfortable and, yes, often healthier lives will turn around and bite us-hard. This proves just how vulnerable we are despite all our scientific know-how and advances in medicine.

This need not be like this only if some one would care to listen to what we say and what we believe will help. Our contribution was tested, published and exhibited, yet the medical disposable device manufacturers are living in an illusion and encouraging the spread of these bacteria.

First, we must reduce all practical procedures and reduce multiple punctures on the skin of patients and reduce introducing infections into the body and blood vessels of all inpatients in the hospital.