Health care has been much improved since the discovery of antibiotics. Prior to WWII, Sulfa drugs were the treatment of choice to fight bacteria and were quite successful, but did not cover all the organisms that attacked humans. As a result, many perished and even more suffered debilitating diseases. Antibiotics were the answer to fighting infections.
As time went on, improved antibiotics were developed, increasing the range of bacteria killing rates. They work in one of two ways. The first, is Bacteriostatic. This inhibits the bacterias ability to reproduce. In doing so, they die off since they can not sustain their populations. The second, is Bactericidal. This method directly kills the bacteria in ways ranging from destroying the cell wall to disrupting their metabolism. Choosing the correct antibiotic depends on which bacteria is involved, the age and type of patient and level of toxicity permitted.
Evolution is a fact of life, and dealing with bacteria is no exception. As antibiotics have been used, the bacteria have become resistant to them through evolution. Thus, new and better ones needed to be developed. We are currently on the fourth generation Fluoroquinolones as the most advanced level of antibiotics. The average effective life of an antibiotic has been reduced to only several years before a large percentage of bacteria become resistant to them. This is due in part to the over use by doctors of the medications. A sad but true fact.
We are now facing a true demon, and deadly organism in the MRSA or Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus bacteria. It has been publicized in the news because it is an antibiotic resistant bacteria that has a VERY high fatality rate once involved in the blood stream. The usual case scenario is that a patient goes to the doctor with an infection and is treated with standard antibiotics. They return to the doctor in a few days after getting worse, and then are treated with stronger ones. Unfortunately, once the infection gets into the blood, it is often too late. If it is a skin infection, the affected area can be surgically removed, but if is has spread, the results are all too often deadly.
The best treatment for MRSA is Vancomycin. So the logical question is why not treat all patients with it. The answer is that it is a very strong antibiotics, and is very toxic. If it is not MRSA then the patient may become resistant to it and if then needed, it will not work. Plus it is toxic and should only be used when needed. A current problem is that is has been over used, and there are MRSA bacteria that have already become resistant to it. That means that if needed, it will not work, and may result in death to the patient.
In short, if you have an infection, see your doctor as soon as possible and be aware that if you do not get better in a few days return to him/her because you may have MRSA and may need a new treatment. Failing to do so, may be fatal.
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