"Super Bugs": Dangerous Bacterial Infections

Upcoming Conference

5th International Hyperbaric Symposium

 

Upcoming Conference: 5th International Symposium on Hyperbaric Oxygen and the Recoverable Brain is taking place on July 19th-22nd in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This scientific symposium will address the latest advances in hyperbaric oxygen in the field of treatment of neurologic injuries. Dr. Adam Breiner will be one of the speakers at the conference. His presentation will cover Real-Time EEG Neurofeedback and Hyperbaric Oxygen: Two Powerful Therapies for the Injured Brain.

Health Practitioners that wish to attend this symposium should visit The 5th International Symposium website or call 877-259-7837 for the U.S. and Mexico. Doctors that live outside these countries can call 954-678-0471.

 

 

In the News:

As I mentioned in the last newsletter, a suit was filed against the FDA with respect to mercury fillings. I urge all of our U.S. subscribers to write their Congressmen or Congresswomen and Senators - Ask the following:

1) Why won't the FDA do an Environmental Impact statement on the largest source of mercury in waste water - dental amalgams?
2) Why has the FDA refused to classify mercury fillings for decades?
3) Why does the FDA allow mercury fillings to be sold under a sham name - silver fillings? The major component of an amalgam filling is mercury, so it should be called as such. This is misleading and deceptive.

In Connecticut, the Coalition to Enforce the Connecticut's Zero Mercury Law and Consumers for Dental Choice, placed "Consumer Alert" ads in the largest state newspapers. The ads encouraged awareness for consumers to urge their dentists to stop using "silver" mercury fillings after July 1st.

 

Note From Dr. Breiner:

Last month I was invited to speak at the Green Planet Health Food Store. It is really a special place. In addition to all the usual items you find in a health food store, there are fresh baked goods, a deli producing wholesome prepared foods, organic vegetables (much of which are locally grown), and much more. The store is huge. The owners, Doug and Brenda Peterson, are committed to the highest standards possible, and even have a discount buying club to help make healthy living even more affordable. Green Planet is located in Oakville, CT. It's worth the ride. Visit their web site at www.greenplanetusa.com

As June draws to a close, I'd like to wish our U.S. subscriber's a Happy 4th of July. My wife and I are planning on taking off this holiday week. In addition to relaxing, I hope to spend some time writing Part 2 of "Super Bugs" - this month's topic.

 

 "Super Bugs"

This month I would like to address the issue of "Super Bugs". These are bacteria that are resistant to all or most of our present stock of antibiotics. Some are becoming more pervasive and attacking seemingly healthy people.

Last year the man who owns the apiary where I get my raw honey related his "Super Bug" story. He had tripped on his non-paved driveway and scraped his hands. A few days later he couldn't get out of bed, had a fever, and had pain in his back and his legs. He spent 3 weeks in the hospital, unconscious part of the time. He had an infection which ran unchecked throughout his body and didn't respond to the first wave of antibiotics.

Fortunately, his story had a happy ending. Many are not so lucky. Hospitals are not a good place to be sick. In the U.S., almost 2 million patients pick up an infection while hospitalized. This is out of 35 million admissions. I do not find this a comforting statistic! Out of these 2 million, two thirds are infected with an organism resistant to at least one antibiotic. It is estimated that 100,000 patients die of hospital-acquired infections each year.

The cost of treating these hospital infections is approximately $30 billion dollars!

One of the most feared hospital infections is MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus). Most of us have heard about "staph" infections. "Staph" is short for Staphylococcus aureus. Staph is the common cause of skin infections like impetigo, boils and abscesses. Some staph can cause more serious diseases like pneumonia or blood infections. It is estimated that 25-30% of the population normally have staph on their skin or in their nose.

Most staph infections respond to typical antibiotics. However, a resistant staph strain is called MRSA. These staph bacteria are resistant to the antibiotic methicillin and the other penicillin related types. Now there is also VRSA which are staph bacteria that are resistant to vancomycin, the drug that could always be counted on as a last resort.

Up until recently, these "Super Bugs" were confined almost exclusively to the hospital. Now, as with my apiary friend, more cases are being contracted outside the hospital.

How did we come to this state of seemingly incurable infections? Modern day drug therapy is supposed to save us from this. In the past it certainly seemed like it would.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in 1974 two percent of hospital staph infections did not respond to the standard antibiotics of the day and alternatives had to be used. Today that figure is 60%! The bacteria evolved and become more and more resistant to antibiotics, and this is not confined to just the staphococcus varieties.

For instance, an intestinal bug called Clostridium difficile (CD) has mutated into a more toxic strain and is showing up in the hospitals. CD typically causes diarrhea. However, the new strain produces about 20 times the amount of toxin as the "normal" strain, and can destroy a colon in less than a week.

According to many authorities, the overuse of antibiotics is the biggest cause of these "Super Bugs".

With the introduction of penicillin in the early 1940's, the hope of vanquishing bacterial infections seemed at hand. However, by the mid 1940's bacteria resistant to penicillin were already emerging. No problem. Many more antibiotics were being introduced to the market. Also, in the 1950's these antibiotics started being used in animal feed.

The use of antibiotics became ubiquitous. Patients expected a prescription for an antibiotic for even the most trivial malady including the common cold, which is caused by a virus, not a bacteria. Doctors obliged, and antibiotics were handed out like "chicklets". Today it is estimated there are 130 million prescriptions per year for antibiotics. In 1997, a study showed that half of patients with a common cold were given antibiotics by their doctors.

Over time more and more antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria have developed. Vancomycin had been the antibiotic of last resort to handle difficult infections. As its use has increased more and more vancomycin-resistant bacteria are emerging.

As all this has been occurring, the drug companies have been cutting back on their antibiotic research.

It costs about a billion dollars to bring a new drug to the market over 10-15 years. An antibiotic is administered to a patient for about two weeks. A statin drug to lower cholesterol is given daily. Given the potential return on investment, where would you put your money? Also, as the antibiotics get more powerful, the risk of serious side effects increases. For example, the antibiotic Trovan was linked to cases of liver failure and therefore must be used very judiciously. In our litigious society, adverse reactions to drugs often lead to costly lawsuits.

There are fewer antibiotics in development as compared with past years, and, even when a new drug is developed bacteria become resistant to it in a short period of time. What do we do? Next month I will explore alternatives to antibiotics.

© 2006, Mark A. Breiner, DDS

The information presented is for educational purposes only. You should consult a qualified dentist or health practitioner for diagnosis and treatment.

 

Dr. Breiner's book, Whole-Body Dentistry, is available on-line at www.wholebodydentistry.com or by phone at 1.800.BOOKLOG (800.266.5564).

 

 

About Dr. Breiner:

Whole Body News Update expert, Mark A. Breiner, DDS, FAGD, FIAOMT, is a leading authority and pioneer in the field of holistic dentistry. He is the author of the popular consumer education book, Whole-Body Dentistry, a guide to the "dental connection" to whole-body wellness. With more than 30 years experience, Dr. Breiner has helped patients from across the US and other countries attain a higher overall level of dental health and general well-being. Dr. Breiner is a past President of The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. He is in private practice in Trumbull, Connecticut.

"Whole-Body Dentistry is more than whether your teeth are healthy; it's whether you are healthy!" - Dr. Robert C. Atkins, M.D.
 

 

Attention Meeting Planners:

Need an expert to talk about dentistry and whole-body health for your group or organization? Dr. Breiner, a popular speaker, addresses both lay and professional audiences. Call 203.371.0300 or send an e-mail inquiry to DoctorBreiner@wholebodydentistry.com

 

Whole Body News Update is your free monthly e-zine to stay up-to-date on many dental health issues as well as other important alternative health topics; featuring articles, interviews with experts, actual patient stories, Q&A on holistic health topics, with emphasis on the "Dental-Whole-Body Health Connection". This e-zine is designed to help you become a knowledgeable participant in your health care choices.

If you would like to offer feedback or suggestions for future topics for this e-zine please e-mail Dr. Breiner at DoctorBreiner@wholebodydentistry.com
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