41–50 of 99 posts
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When actions taken based on the perceived self-interest of individuals put the public health at harm, any public health program will probably be perceived as paternalistic. The cavalier approach to antibiotic custodianship you are describing is exactly why we have limitations on antibiotic availability in this country.
This actually might be good for my grandparents. They live pretty far out from the nearest town and during storms in the winter the roads can be blocked for a week or more. It seems like this would be something good to have in their first aid kit. Are there antibiotics that keep well and are good for general infections? (Purely as a last resort if there's no way for them to get medical attention)
A very large percentage of infections are viral and antibiotics would be of no use. Hence the reason antibiotic abuse in humans is so common. I suspect antibiotics in livestock/food supply are an even greater contributor to resistance, because they are used as preventative medicine in that sector, but really, neither is good.
Or have I forgotten something.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
When actions taken based on the perceived self-interest of individuals put the public health at harm, any public health program will probably be perceived as paternalistic. The cavalier approach to antibiotic custodianship you are describing is exactly why we have limitations on antibiotic availability in this country.
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This is an issue that pits public health against the perceived (not actual) self interests of people who want antibiotics. Public health is not medicine, though it does guide medicine.
Also, "Fuck you doctor" is a greeting that I've never seen before. Hilarious.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
By what means did you self-diagnose MRSA? At a hospital, that would involve a Gram stain / culture/speciation / sensitivities and take a few days. Gram stain, because it's very fast (minutes) and can tell you, e.g., that you have Gram positive cocci in clusters (thus, likely staphylococcus species ). Culture, then, to grow the bugs and see what nutritional requirements they have and what biochemical modifications the…
A really determined person could probably do almost all of those at home if they really wanted to, with the exception of the sensitivity test and PCR. A makeshift incubator wouldn't be that hard to fashion, TSA plates are cheap, gram stain kits are relatively cheap, and you can do a catalase test with hydrogen peroxide. I guess you'd need a decent microscope, but the hypothetical person that's gram staining their own…
ICU doctor here. I frequently see complications of overuse of antibiotics. C diff colitis (1) is certainly the most obvious, but resistant pneumonias and urinary tract infections are becoming more common as well. Many resistant organisms set up shop in chronically ill patients who see multiple rounds of antibiotics through their lives; however, in just my short 10 year history as a physician, the increasing amount of…
I would guess not as bad, the culture in the US is to medicate immediately at first sign of illness. When I get sick, I try to just let it run it's course.
[deleted]
When actions taken based on the perceived self-interest of individuals put the public health at harm, any public health program will probably be perceived as paternalistic. The cavalier approach to antibiotic custodianship you are describing is exactly why we have limitations on antibiotic availability in this country.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
A very large percentage of infections are viral and antibiotics would be of no use. Hence the reason antibiotic abuse in humans is so common. I suspect antibiotics in livestock/food supply are an even greater contributor to resistance, because they are used as preventative medicine in that sector, but really, neither is good.
So are his grandparents going to catch a cold from the trees? If they don't have contact due to blocked roads then I think they can rule out viral infections? Or have I forgotten something.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't live in the US, so I can only tell from my country, that I think is even more what pisses you off. I don't think, that every use of medicine should be regulated, but antibiotics I see different and I am really not amused hearing, that you can get them in fish stores ... The problem of modern medicine today is, that more and more resistances occur. The reason is: Overuse or wrong use of antibiotics. That probl…
Ok, but the guy takes antibiotics, and the pain goes away. Seems pretty clear-cut, no? How long should he wait in pain? I get sinus infections like that. They drag on for weeks at a time, I take some antibiotics, and bang, better in a day or two. Those weeks when I'm miserable have costs in terms of not being able to work as much, not being as much help around the house, not going out/seen friends, and generally gett…
Because people think that way, many will go to hospital and get said: There is nothing we can do for you (anymore).
And wait some years, than the problem will widespread.
We are indeed really lucky: Only 100 years before, there was no cure for many diseases where we just throw a pill today. But we today just take it for granted and we gamble the advantage away. They day will come and has yet come, that nature is throwing back onto us.