NEWS: Potentially Fatal Stomach Bug Spreads to UK

A new strain of Bacterial stomach infection, that is very resistant to standard anti infection measures has claimed the lives of 12 and infected 300 patients in one trust since 2003



I recently stayed in a NHS hospital and though the staff and expertise is to be commended I did notice a definate lowering of cleanliness than when I had a minor procedure about 10 years ago.

I believe it is no coincidence that this has happened now that Cleaning within the NHS has been contracted out to private business in that time.

I think it also highlights the need for the medical profession to look for a newer approach than just antibiotics.

Related News Links:
www.cdc.gov
news.bbc.co.uk

Easy to beleive.
One of the best places to get sick is in the hospital.
Staph infections is one of the most prevelent in a hospital environment

This are not good news, taking in consideration all the others deseases been now on alert like birth flu.

I am afraid that the humid and wet season now on us in the south is going to bring some nasty bugs.

And for the hospitals around here well I had so far two surgical procedures and I have to say that the hospital was the best, no complain about it, the place was spotless, and the staff was the best one.

Maybe there is a possible explaination as to why this new bug has surfaced. It may be that it's birth may be from just the overwhelming numbers of people who are in the hospital at any given time thus, the staff may not have the proper time needed to clean to their proper standards. Anyone else thinking along these lines?

Here's an update

U.K. superbug outbreak may be linked to Canada

Associated Press

LONDON — British health authorities said Tuesday they are investigating a new virulent strain of bacteria that may have been imported from the United States or Canada.

The germ, a new variety of the bacterium Clostridium difficile, has killed 12 people -- almost all elderly -- in a hospital outside the capital over the last 18 months, Britain's Health Protection Agency said.

Clostridium difficile, so named because it was difficult to grow in a laboratory when it was first discovered in the 1930s, is one of the most common hospital-acquired infections around the world and the most frequent cause of diarrhea in hospital patients. It is found in the gut of about three per cent of people.

Superbug Outbreak May be Linked to Canada

Bacteria evolve just like all organisms, just faster because their genome (all their DNA) is smaller than mammals. When we take antibiotics, the chemicals kill off all bacteria in our body including the normal skin and gastrointestinal flora. Some of the bacteria have genes encoding products which allow them to live in the face of the antibiotics, most of the time these resistant intruders are just killed off by the bodies own immune system. Sometimes however these resistant bacteria survive. They may not be a problem at the time but become one later, when you get sick again or take another antibiotic giving them another selective advantage. Bacteria in your (all animals) intestines are exposed to antibiotics most often because most antibiotics are taken orally. The problem is not that we take antibiotics (although there are issues with people and animals taking too much or not finishing their antibiotics when prescribed as well), antibiotics are a medical necessity it would seriously SUCK, to go back to the days when we lacked these drugs. However in the last 20 years bacteria have become increasingly resistant to these chemicals. Now there were scientists who in the 1970's proclaimed this to be a problem, but they were ridiculed and laughed at, and infectious disease was proclaimed dead. Well guess what they were right. NOW MRSA- methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is common hospital infection, happen ALL the time. So what you may say that it is resistant to one antibiotic no big thing, well it is because the gene which encodes this causes it to be resistant to other antibiotics as well. Recently this bacteria has become resistant to vancomycin (the last antibiotic available to fight it). When people get infected with this bacteria and it is now resistant to vancomycin they lose limbs and or die (also the CDC gets involved). Since the first scientists came forward in the 70's others have made more dire warnings, all of which unheaded, so now MORE types of bacteria; Clostridia genera, E coli, Klebesia genera and others many others including the bacteria causing sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and syphilis. Pharmaceutical companies (a true evil empire), know about this and refuse to manufacture new antibiotics, not updated versions of old drugs, which mean quick cash flow for these companies but actual NEW drugs. The politicians in this country know about this and really do not care, they do not for example offer (real) finical incentives for these companies to produce these drugs. Meanwhile people are suffering and dying, or course most of them are the very old, and sick or the very young and poor, hey they don’t vote so in their minds do they really exist? Furthermore the current administration cut funding for the CDC. Yes they increased the bioterriosm budget but that money is not used to combat problems with everyday bacteria. One day soon however we will begin to see even bigger problems, more disturbing health concerns, even worse than the one cited in this article. If this problem is not addressed we will return to the days with people dying of simple urinary track infections, or sore throats.

[edit on 7-6-2005 by maladjusted]