Killer staph infections on the rise. Claim the life of young boy in Dallas.

[Horse with no Name]

Was having a conversation in another thread about this. Resistant staph infections are on the rise in our area.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/030307dnmetkillerpneumonia.3bce531.html

>>>snip
A rare form of pneumonia ravaged and killed a normally healthy 14-year-old boy. Drew's shocking death devastated his classmates and terrified their parents.

The Dallas County medical examiner's office ruled that Drew died from pneumonia caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and streptococcus infections.

>>>snip
"Two years ago we were very surprised to see a case," said Dr. R. Doug Hardy, an infectious disease expert at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Medical Center Dallas.

Dr. Hardy said Children's has seen up to a case a week in the winter. As the flu season peaks in Dallas, MRSA pneumonia cases also seem to peak.

[FourScore]

1. Not good.

[Obamarama]

2. We see 1 to 2 cases of lab-confirmed cases of MRSA a week in our medical practice.

Most don't progress to such dire proportions, but if the person is weakened enough, and of the strain is strong enough, watch out.

[Horse with no Name]

3. We've been seeing an increase

in pediatrics. More than half of our patients are admitted with it. They have all been lab-confirmed and Vancomycin has killed the infections...so far.

[FourScore]

4. Where are you located?

Is that trend all over the US?

[babylonsister]

5. My friend's stepdad is dying. He's 84 but was admitted for heart problems,

which quickly went into pneumonia, and now they think he might have tuberculosis? How odd is that?
I don't think they have been able to diagnose him. He's expected to die in the next few days, but has been quarantined. He lives in FL.
Could it be staph, too?

[no_hypocrisy]

7. If C. Diff is like staph, it's spreading in hospitals due to lack of sterilization.

A man I know who's 84 years old contracted C. Diff while being treated for a heart attack and the former almost killed him, especially as his constitution was compromised from dialysis.

[catnhatnh]

6. I'm not well informed medically....

...but I was appalled to see tamiflu pushed as a panacea for "flulike symptoms" on tv tonight with a hint that you must demand it within 48 hours of onset....I thought this was an antibiotic that would be held back against an epidemic of a shifting flu or infection, but instead it was out there being turned into a commodity so that resistant strains have an easy shot at it....Am I confused?

[sendero]

8. Tamiflu..

.... is an anti-viral agent with some but limited effectiveness against the (some) flu viruses.

It's probably useful for the very young, the very old, or folks who have other health or immune problems.

I don't think normal healthy people need it. But then, I'm not a doctor nor do I play one on TV :)

[bonito]

9. It's sad that there really is a simple remedy

For these infections using silver ions but for the lack of profit its kept under the radar.

[depakid]

10. Then again, there's argyria....

a most unpleasant condition caused by colloidal silver products....

Animal studies have shown that silver builds up in the tissues of the body. In humans, buildup of silver from colloidal silver can lead to a side effect called argyria. It causes a bluish-gray discoloration of the skin, other organs, deep tissues, nails, and gums. Argyria cannot be treated or reversed, and it is permanent.

While it is not known how argyria occurs, it is thought that silver combines with protein, forming complexes that deposit in the skin and are processed by sunlight (as in traditional photography).6,7 Other side effects from using colloidal silver products may include neurologic problems (such as seizures), kidney damage, stomach distress, headaches, fatigue, and skin irritation. Colloidal silver may interfere with the body's absorption of the following drugs: penacillamine, quinolones, tetracyclines, and thyroxine.5

More: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/alerts/silver/

[bonito]

11. Would you try it on a family member if they were dying

From an infection where antibiotics were not working? I did and that was about 7yrs. ago and still use it because her condition leaves her susceptible for infections. Just sayin when it comes to live or die you really have no choice, I know if I gave up and didn't do all I could, I couldn't live with myself.

[depakid]

12. If I thought it was safe and effective

I would. I'm not opposed to CAM therapies at all- so long as there is evidence that they works.

[bonito]

13. I think you missed my point

She was dying right before my eyes, as far as safe or effective I did not know at the time, we had nothing to lose and it worked.:bounce:

[depakid]

14. I'm glad to hear she got better

whether it was the silver or a placebo effect or something else really doesn't matter in that case....

[bonito]

15. Thanks