Thursday, May 29, 2008

Gut superbug causing more illnesses and deaths

The number of people hospitalized with a dangerous intestinal superbug Clostridium difficile has been growing by more than 10,000 cases a year in US according to a new study. Resistant to some antibiotics, it has become a regular menace in hospitals and nursing homes. A recent study found it played a role in nearly 300,000 hospitalizations in 2005, more than double the number in 2000.
The infection, Clostridium difficile, is found in the colon and can cause diarrhea and a more serious intestinal condition known as colitis. It is spread by spores in feces. But the spores are difficult to kill with most conventional household cleaners or antibacterial soap.
C-diff, as it's known, has grown resistant to certain antibiotics that work against other colon bacteria. The result: When patients take those antibiotics, competing bacteria die off and C-diff explodes.
It is opined that one of the causes of the resistance development could be overuse and inappropriate use of antibiotics.
See http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/14/6/929.htm

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Dear Dr Tamhankar,
It is really wonderful that you have put the web page.
I will send the report of the meeting with civil society on Rational Use of Drugs which included Rational Use of Antibiotics. As part of Women's Health activities, specially addressing Maternal Mortality, Rational Use of Antibiotics in dealing with sepsis & also Malaria etc was dealt with. National Commission of Women organized a consultation on Draft National Policy for women in Agriculture. I made the public health inputs which amongst other things included communicable diseases eg Malaria in Assam, Chattisgarh, where incidentally there has been shortage of chloroquin & other health problems, injury, infections, fungal diseases etc. & the need for Rational use of Antibiotics & the problem of emergence of antibiotic Resistance. Since Chairpersons of State Commission of Women were there the concern has been introduced, & will be followed up.
Dr. Mira Shiva, IHES/AIDAN/IPHC (South Asia)

Read The ``TRUE LIFE STORY``of a family infected with MRSA