Community Chat

[newziesuzie]

More results of over using antibiotics?

Drug-resistant food poisoning is now in the US

http://www.aol.com/article/2015/04/03/drug-resistant-food-poisoning-is-now-in-the-us/21161156/?ModPa...

AOL.com: A new bug sneaking into homes across the country and wreaking havoc on residents.

Shigella is causing major problems for people across the country because, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Shigella is a new multi-drug resistant strain of food poisoning.

The new strain packs the usual wallop of hellish symptoms like stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea.

Researchers at the CDC narrowed down the source of the bug to travelers coming back to the US from India, the Dominican Republic and Morocco.

Doctors usually prescribe an antibiotic called ciprofloxacin, but this particular strain is resistant to the drug.

"If rates of resistance become this high, in more places, we'll have very few options left for treating Shigella with antibiotics by mouth," the epidemiologist who conducted the study told NPR. Doctors will then have to resort to IV antibiotics.

The CDC released recommendations for travelers:

Tips for travelers:

1... Observe food, water, and hand-hygiene precautions while traveling;

2.... Use over-the-counter medications like Pepto-Bismol or Immodium if they wish to

3.... treat mild or moderate travelers' diarrhea;

4....Reserve antimicrobial medications for severe cases of travelers' diarrhea;

5....Seek health care if they are experiencing diarrhea upon return to the United States or develop diarrhea shortly thereafter;

6... Remain vigilant regarding hygiene practices while ill.

[SuiGeneris]

Something important that was omitted from the article above is the incubation period, which depends on the strain. It varies from twelve hours to seven days but is usually one to three days.

Also, it can be fatal, unlike most cases of food poisoning and is incredibly contagious. Around the world, about 100 million people get infected with Shigella each year, and about 600,000 die from it.

[Irshgrl31201]

I read about this earlier. This is scary to me because of all the GI problems I have had!

Wow, SuiGeneris, I did not realize that many people were infected yearly.

[newziesuzie]

On 4/4/2015 SuiGeneris said:

Something important that was omitted from the article above is the incubation period, which depends on the strain. It varies from twelve hours to seven days but is usually one to three days.

Also, it can be fatal, unlike most cases of food poisoning and is incredibly contagious. Around the world, about 100 million people get infected with Shigella each year, and about 600,000 die from it.

Thank you and I'm sorry my article wasn't as complete SuiGeneris. I posted in the Health board because I thought it was a important alert so I added your important info.

[hyacinth003]

Drug resistant TB is also in the US, in Arizona.

At an ICE detention facility. 4 members of Congress have written to ask this person NOT be released into the Pinal County community. He has been treated there for 7 months, and the estimated cost of continuing treatment (to the community) would be about $200,000.

They are asking he be kept there or DEPORTED.

Hyacinth

[Puzzle Piece]

Thanks for the info. Any particular food item responsible??

[Sushismom]

On 4/4/2015 Irshgrl31201 said:

I read about this earlier. This is scary to me because of all the GI problems I have had!

Wow, SuiGeneris, I did not realize that many people were infected yearly.

Most of those deaths are of children in third world countries.

[Puzzle Piece]

On 4/5/2015 hyacinth003 said:

Drug resistant TB is also in the US, in Arizona.

At an ICE detention facility. 4 members of Congress have written to ask this person NOT be released into the Pinal County community. He has been treated there for 7 months, and the estimated cost of continuing treatment (to the community) would be about $200,000.

They are asking he be kept there or DEPORTED.

Hyacinth

Deport them, deport them all.

[fourpaws56]