Wednesday, November 28, 2007
In today's writing session, I wrote about a page of facts. I have four pages written so far, with a list of other things I need to bring up in my paper in the works. I have a lot of organizing and citations to do, but so far the paper is coming along nicely. I will probably pick up my writing tonight, and will also write a lot on Thursday.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Superbugs
Thesis: Antibiotic resistance is no new problem. Alexander Fleming acknowledged that bacteria would learn to resist antibiotics when he first discovered penicillin. Bacteria did exactly what he said it would, but until now, the answer to resistance was upgrading to a higher dosage of an antibiotic or a stronger version of it. This is where the new problem lies: there are certain bacteria, known as superbugs, which have learned to defy even the strongest of antibiotics, and due to unawareness, the general public is increasing the problem by demanding antibiotics when they aren’t needed.
I. Antibiotic and anti-microbial resistance
a. Not a new problem-was just ignored for too long
b. How bacteria learn to defy antibiotics and anti-microbials
c. Disinfectants role in bacterial resistance (tricolsan is the main problem).
d. Development of superbugs
e. Vancomycin-why its no longer effective
II. New ways to fight superbugs
a. Honey, copper, and garlic-how they may help in combating superbugs
b. Bacteriophages and their role in fighting superbugs from the inside out
c. Developing vaccine
III. Education and Superbugs-What the general public needs to know
a. Doctors need to learn how to recognize a superbug when they see it and also need to be aware of proper treatment
b. Misuse of antibiotics and how doctors can teach patients to avoid it
c. Different types of superbugs
d. What MRSA is and how it affects your immune system
e. How to avoid contracting a superbug (good hygiene)
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Fixing my bib
The feedback I received from my peers was very helpful in understanding how to write an annotated bibliography correctly so that it makes sense. In order to make corrections on my bibliography, I plan to:
1)Develop the significance of the subject for my audience more clearly.
2)Add categories for organization
3)Double check to make sure I have used the right format (indentions)
4)Elaborate on how my sources benefit my paper and therefore audience
1)Develop the significance of the subject for my audience more clearly.
2)Add categories for organization
3)Double check to make sure I have used the right format (indentions)
4)Elaborate on how my sources benefit my paper and therefore audience
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Annotated Bib Entry #2
Bettelheim, Adriel. (June 4, 1999). Drug-resistant bacteria. CQ Researcher, 9 (21). Retrieved November 12, 2007, from CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1999060400.
Anti-microbial resistance is no new phenomenon. Alexander Fleming, the creator of penicillin, acknowledged the problem of anti-microbial resistance in a 1945 New York Times interview. The most recent problems with anti-microbial resistance are the lack of new antibiotics when the old ones stop working. There are many different ideas as to what is causing the resistance, but it is mostly attributed to the unnecessary overuse of the once dubbed all-purpose drugs. Patients are demanding a prescription from doctors over the phone, and are given the prescription for what is usually a virus. It is estimated that "20 to 50 percent of the 145 million antibiotic prescriptions given each year to outpatients are unnecessary"(p.5). Often times, patients don't follow the dosage for prescriptions and don't finish them-another culprit for creating drug-resistant bacteria. If patients were properly informed and all cases were properly documented, superbugs would be a lot easier to manage.
The problem with the superbugs that are created due to antibiotic overuse is not that they are more dangerous, just harder to kill. The last resort antibiotic, vancomycin, has already met its match in a few cases. The most effective measure thus far in prevention of superbugs is good hygiene, including hand washing and showering after workouts. Taking medication until it is all gone is another good measure to take. Scientists and pharmaceutical companies are working on the problem, but it could be another five years before they come up with a solution.
Anti-microbial resistance is no new phenomenon. Alexander Fleming, the creator of penicillin, acknowledged the problem of anti-microbial resistance in a 1945 New York Times interview. The most recent problems with anti-microbial resistance are the lack of new antibiotics when the old ones stop working. There are many different ideas as to what is causing the resistance, but it is mostly attributed to the unnecessary overuse of the once dubbed all-purpose drugs. Patients are demanding a prescription from doctors over the phone, and are given the prescription for what is usually a virus. It is estimated that "20 to 50 percent of the 145 million antibiotic prescriptions given each year to outpatients are unnecessary"(p.5). Often times, patients don't follow the dosage for prescriptions and don't finish them-another culprit for creating drug-resistant bacteria. If patients were properly informed and all cases were properly documented, superbugs would be a lot easier to manage.
The problem with the superbugs that are created due to antibiotic overuse is not that they are more dangerous, just harder to kill. The last resort antibiotic, vancomycin, has already met its match in a few cases. The most effective measure thus far in prevention of superbugs is good hygiene, including hand washing and showering after workouts. Taking medication until it is all gone is another good measure to take. Scientists and pharmaceutical companies are working on the problem, but it could be another five years before they come up with a solution.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Annotated Bib Entry #1
Clemmitt, Marcia. (August 24, 2007). Fighting Superbugs. CQ Researcher, 17 (29). Retrieved October 31, 2007, from http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2007082400.
Antibiotic resistance is becoming an almost unstoppable problem in today's health care. Bacteria naturally develop resistance to antibiotics, and instead of just increasing the dosage or using the next strongest antibiotic, health care providers are running out of options. One of the biggest problems in antibiotic resistance right now is methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, more commonly known as MRSA. This bacteria was seen in mostly hospital patients until just recently. It is starting to infect people outside of hospitals, where it is then referred to as Community Acquired MRSA. The problem with CA-MRSA is that it is becoming resistant to almost all antibiotics except for vancomycin-the strongest, last resort antibiotic. Even so, there have already been a few cases of vancomycin resistant staphylococcus, which leaves us with nothing to fight the bacteria with. Some may argue that the answer is the careful monitoring of antibiotic distribution. It may be able to keep track of what is distributed in America and other developed countries, but there are too many countries which allow patients to pick up an antibiotic at the pharmacy without a prescription. There are a few developments in the fight against MRSA, such as using the anti-infective properties of honey and the use of "bacteriophages-viruses that invade certain species of bacterial cells and cause them to burst and die"(p.22). Even with these new remedies, it is important to remember how dangerous MRSA is, and to know how to avoid it. Hand washing is the most important step in preventing the spread of bacteria. Soaps with the antibacterial triclosan should be avoided, however, as they contribute to antibiotic resistance. It is also very important to take all of a prescribed antibiotic as stopping when symptoms subside could leave the stronger bacteria behind.
I can use the information from Clemmitts article to explain what MRSA is, how it is aquired, how to prevent it, and how the FDA and drug companies are working on a solution.
Antibiotic resistance is becoming an almost unstoppable problem in today's health care. Bacteria naturally develop resistance to antibiotics, and instead of just increasing the dosage or using the next strongest antibiotic, health care providers are running out of options. One of the biggest problems in antibiotic resistance right now is methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, more commonly known as MRSA. This bacteria was seen in mostly hospital patients until just recently. It is starting to infect people outside of hospitals, where it is then referred to as Community Acquired MRSA. The problem with CA-MRSA is that it is becoming resistant to almost all antibiotics except for vancomycin-the strongest, last resort antibiotic. Even so, there have already been a few cases of vancomycin resistant staphylococcus, which leaves us with nothing to fight the bacteria with. Some may argue that the answer is the careful monitoring of antibiotic distribution. It may be able to keep track of what is distributed in America and other developed countries, but there are too many countries which allow patients to pick up an antibiotic at the pharmacy without a prescription. There are a few developments in the fight against MRSA, such as using the anti-infective properties of honey and the use of "bacteriophages-viruses that invade certain species of bacterial cells and cause them to burst and die"(p.22). Even with these new remedies, it is important to remember how dangerous MRSA is, and to know how to avoid it. Hand washing is the most important step in preventing the spread of bacteria. Soaps with the antibacterial triclosan should be avoided, however, as they contribute to antibiotic resistance. It is also very important to take all of a prescribed antibiotic as stopping when symptoms subside could leave the stronger bacteria behind.
I can use the information from Clemmitts article to explain what MRSA is, how it is aquired, how to prevent it, and how the FDA and drug companies are working on a solution.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
What I've learned...plus some links
CBS news(superbugs)
Food and Drug Administration(antibiotic resistance)
PubMed(bacterial resistance to disinfectants)
In the research I've done thus far, I've learned that the overuse of antibiotics is allowing bacteria to become resistant to the most common antibiotics, such as penicillin and amoxicillin. People are contracting super bugs, which are only treatable by the strongest, most expensive, and last resort antibiotic called vancomycin. The largest problem is that certain infections (mainly the staph infection seen in DuPage County) are becoming resistant to this drug as well, leaving us with no last resorts. Another problem contributing to the development of super bugs is the overuse of disinfectants. When people use disinfectants when they are healthy, it makes them less effective when they actually need them. This is because the most common disinfectant is becoming less effective as bacteria are starting to resist it. This, in turn, is contributing to stronger bacteria that are able to resist antibiotics. Another problem with disinfectants is that once you use them, you become instantly re-contaminated the second you touch something. The most important thing in fighting these super bugs is hand washing-especially the scrubbing action, which is what gets rid of the germs. Contrary to popular belief, the scrubbing action and warm water are more important than whether or not the soap is antibacterial.
What I still need to learn is how the chemicals in disinfectants are affecting our immune system and how this is affecting our bodies' ability to fight the super bugs on its own. I also need to decide if I want to include America's obsession with antibiotics and disinfectants-the psychological side of things. There is also a lot more information about types of antibiotics and disinfectants and how they actually work that I haven't even touched on yet.
Food and Drug Administration(antibiotic resistance)
PubMed(bacterial resistance to disinfectants)
In the research I've done thus far, I've learned that the overuse of antibiotics is allowing bacteria to become resistant to the most common antibiotics, such as penicillin and amoxicillin. People are contracting super bugs, which are only treatable by the strongest, most expensive, and last resort antibiotic called vancomycin. The largest problem is that certain infections (mainly the staph infection seen in DuPage County) are becoming resistant to this drug as well, leaving us with no last resorts. Another problem contributing to the development of super bugs is the overuse of disinfectants. When people use disinfectants when they are healthy, it makes them less effective when they actually need them. This is because the most common disinfectant is becoming less effective as bacteria are starting to resist it. This, in turn, is contributing to stronger bacteria that are able to resist antibiotics. Another problem with disinfectants is that once you use them, you become instantly re-contaminated the second you touch something. The most important thing in fighting these super bugs is hand washing-especially the scrubbing action, which is what gets rid of the germs. Contrary to popular belief, the scrubbing action and warm water are more important than whether or not the soap is antibacterial.
What I still need to learn is how the chemicals in disinfectants are affecting our immune system and how this is affecting our bodies' ability to fight the super bugs on its own. I also need to decide if I want to include America's obsession with antibiotics and disinfectants-the psychological side of things. There is also a lot more information about types of antibiotics and disinfectants and how they actually work that I haven't even touched on yet.
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