by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: March 23, 2009

MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus are adaptive bacteria more commonly known as super bugs. They normally are easy to manage but with more and more contact with antibiotic they are adapting to antibiotics and are harder to eradicate. How do they do this? Most often this is done when all the dosage of antibiotics was not taken as directed by the physician. Let us say that a prescription called for three times a day for several days. The first day or two it was taken regularly. Then with improvement of the symptoms two or three day's worth was not taken. This did not completely eradicate all the germs; it only stopped their immediate activity. The remaining bunch developed immunity to the antibiotic much in the same way we develop immunities to diseases by vaccines. The next time the drug will have no effect on them.

Another bad thing is that the frugal mom may not want to waste antibiotics and the next time a brother or sister gets a flu like condition with a mild fever, she treats them with the left over antibiotics. She believes in their effect. After all didn't it cure the other child? Don't do this. Throw out left over medication. Take all medicine as directed by the doctor, especially antibiotics. If there are problems with side effects, call the pharmacists or the doctor. Do not, I repeat treat yourself with prescription medications. (And take it easy on the over-the-counter variety.)

Methicillin-resistant Staphycoccus-aureus is mouthful to speak, and was first discovered in hospitals and nursing homes when older patients with bed sores and surgical wounds became infected with staphylococcus that would not respond to penicillin. In the early sixties when these cases first were seen, it was frightening. Many lives were lost. It has continued on and although other antibiotics were developed that at first were effective, these super bugs continue to outsmart scientists. There are now many common drugs that have no effect on these bacteria. It all depends on how much antibiotics the patient battling the infection has had.

The general rule is that don't take antibiotics unless absolutely necessary. That of course goes for any medication but the world now has been lulled into the false notion that what ails the world can be cured by a pill or a capsule. While medication is often necessary, any and all must be taken with caution. And it must be taken as prescribed. Too many people have not listened to the warnings and instead have, over time, put

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>