Strep Bacteria Resistant to New Antibiotic

Aaron Rowe writes "MSNBC and The Lancet medical journal have reported that the new oxazolidinone antibiotic Zyvox is ineffective against some forms of Staphylococcus aureus."

Comments

Evolving Patterns

[captainktainer]

One should not take this development as a sign that bacteria are doing things they shouldn't be doing. It's a matter of natural selection- antibiotic applied to colony, most members die, some with resistance to the drug survive. It's the same process, simplified, that most likely gave rise to multicellular organisms, worms, fish, amphibians, corals, mammals, and ultimately humans. While it's certainly worth noting, it's not like it isn't expected. Life changes. Life evolves. Life moves on to new forms.

That said, it does disturb me. One would think that with multibillion dollar budgets pharmaceutical company researchers could have found a drug effective enough to delay this sort of resistance. It is essential that we find a way to control staphylococcus infections. This disease and others cause many deaths, and can make entering a hospital hazardous. I myself lost a good family friend when staph germs entered her body during heart surgery and simply overwhelmed her body. One of my friends has lost a good deal of his kidney function due to extensive scarring of his kidneys from a staph infection. (It would be wise to point out that recent examinations have revealed the presence of a new growing kidney, complete with ureter, that is forming from the cortex of one of his kidneys- possibly due to healing processes gone amuck).

Staph is a scourge of humanity, and it must be fought. Otherwise, what other suffering will take place?

Clean envorinment?

[zulux]

There was a study of rats that were raised in anaseptically clean environments, and lo and behold, their immune systems bairly developed. Perhaps it would be wise to let your children overcome an infection or two on their own, rather than attempt to fix it via antibiotics every time.

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Not a surprise

[RevAaron]

How many of you use anti-bacterial products? Until we start using anti-bacterial agents judiciously, bacteria will continue evolving to this new environment.

I choose to know use any anti-bacterial agents, with the exception of bleach, which kills by a different type of pathway than anti-biotics.

Unforunately, this isn't a case of something where one person can make a difference. As long a huge percentage of the people in this world (mostly Americans and Canadians, I imagine) continue overusing and over perscribing anti-biotics, we will just be making the bacteria populations stronger and better adapted to whatever drugs we throw at them.

For starters, try to get everyone in your household to stop using anti-bacterial products unless they need them. The people with whom you interact the most are the ones you live with, and swap the most bacteria.

No, this isn't just one of those things that "environmentalists" talk about. The possible danger is very real. That's evolution for you.

Looking through my roomate's things, I find:

* Anti-bacterial deoderant
* Anti-bacterial shower soap bar
* Anti-bacterial toothpaste
* Anti-bacterial mouthwash
* Anti-bacterial liquid hand soap
* Anti-bacterial hand lotion (why?!)

There are probably more around here, stashed somewhere.

Yes, it'll even happen if you're a x-ian who "doesn't believe" in evolution. Unless you know something we don't- perhaps god is the anti-bacterial agent to which bacterial population cannot adapt! :P

Colloidal silver = illness, not remedy

[Anonymous Coward]

Great, maybe then the infections won't kill you (don't bet on it), but argyria will... If you notice your fingernails and/or skin turning bluish, fellow AC with less brains than identity, seek medical attention immediately, and not from your quack homeopathic practitioner. Don't say you weren't warned.