Article

2008-02-22 Iraq

Antibiotic resistant bacteria causing problems with injured troops in Iraq

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Posted by gorb 2008-02-22 12:48|| || Front Page|| [13 views ] Top

#1 This is a nasty antibiotic resistant bacteria. It is also present in the U.S. in hospitals. In looking it up, it was mentioned that phage therapy has been used in treatment for this bacterial infection. I have read that phage therapy was used quite a bit before the advent of antibiotics but that there has not been much interest in this treatment method in the U.S. I know little about phage therapy. My understanding is that a tailor made virus (bacteriophage) injected into the body is used to kill the bacteria. Any medical types know something about this phage therapy? Why is it not used more? Any downside to this type of treatment? Effectiveness?

Posted by JohnQC 2008-02-22 16:16|| 2008-02-22 16:16|| Front Page Top

#2 I gather that Canadian researchers just discovered that a cholesterol drug has the bizarre side effect of sucking the pigment out of streptococcus and leaving it defenseless to the immune system.

Still way too early to tell if it could be used against a real infection, though.

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-02-22 20:45|| 2008-02-22 20:45|| Front Page Top

#3 We are going to regret spending billions on AIDS research while neglecting development of new antibiotics.

Posted by phil_b 2008-02-22 22:05|| 2008-02-22 22:05|| Front Page Top

#4 Seem to recall something about the Russkies sticking with phage research while the west went all out toward antibiotics after the discovery of penicillin. Could be remembering that wrong.

Interesting side note about drug resistant bacteria. Turns out we owe a lot of that to AIDS. It would have happened eventually anyway. AIDS sped it up. In the 80's there was a rapid appearance of a lot of people with suppressed immune systems dying of common infections. Doctors pumped them full of antibiotics, which kept them alive. But their bodies weren't strong enough to actually beat the infections. Tailor made set up to breed super bugs.

Posted by Iblis 2008-02-22 23:20|| 2008-02-22 23:20|| Front Page Top

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