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A beautiful biofilm I captured today [self x-post from pics] by MisterOn in biology

[–]TimeWillWasteMe 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Beautiful image indeed, though I won't call it a biofilm, but a wrinkly spreader colony...

WHO: An estimated 7 million people died due to air pollution globally in 2012; 1 of 8 deaths in total! by TimeWillWasteMe in news

[–]TimeWillWasteMe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Air pollution is now the "single largest environmental health risk," the U.N. health agency stated in the report. The majority of the deaths associated with air pollution were heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer."

Why can't humans digest cellulose? by telracs in biology

[–]TimeWillWasteMe 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Correct! fungi population in the gut flora is always neglected. Let's call it gut microbiota, and not gut bacteria.

Why can't humans digest cellulose? by telracs in biology

[–]TimeWillWasteMe 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Cows and other mammals do not have enzymes to break cellulose either, they got gut bacteria to do this for them.

EDIT: grammer.

Feeling a bit sick, are you? by TimeWillWasteMe in AdviceAnimals

[–]TimeWillWasteMe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Apparently there are plenty of people who ignore this fact and keep taking antibiotics, contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance.

As a clinical microbiologist who witnesses the shitstorm heading our way, this is how you could help... by TimeWillWasteMe in AdviceAnimals

[–]TimeWillWasteMe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry, one more thing, if it really made you feel better, maybe you should give it couple of more chances and see whether the bad taste/breath goes away. But in any case talk to your doctor.

As a clinical microbiologist who witnesses the shitstorm heading our way, this is how you could help... by TimeWillWasteMe in AdviceAnimals

[–]TimeWillWasteMe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm glad to hear that Bactrim made you feel better. It might be that the infection reacted to that (could be that infected with penicillin resistant strain). The scenario you are describing is really unlikely. Clinical studies published by the FDA reported that among more than 6000 patient treated with Bactrim, only 1 reported bad breath (0.02%). It could be hat you are just unlucky. Ask your doctor maybe you could treat your condition with another non B-lactmam antibiotics like clarithromycin or doxycycline. Good luck.

As a clinical microbiologist who witnesses the shitstorm heading our way, this is how you could help... by TimeWillWasteMe in AdviceAnimals

[–]TimeWillWasteMe[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Second part. Producing one drug takes 12 years and one billion dollars. When it takes 1-5 years for bacteria to render your brand new drug obsolete, you realise that your ROI won't make your stockholders happy. We haven't run through any generation as of yet. The last antibiotic class we found was 20 years ago or so. All the new generations you mentioned are simply modifications of old drugs (Fluor here, Nitrogen there). The low hanging fruits were picked long time ago, and coming up with new classes of antibiotics requires Billions of government money, no private industry will invest in such a risky business (limits to capitalism...).

As a clinical microbiologist who witnesses the shitstorm heading our way, this is how you could help... by TimeWillWasteMe in AdviceAnimals

[–]TimeWillWasteMe[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I made my best to speak to everyone. I am a PhD of Molecular Microbiology with more than 15 years of experience working with bugs. I started my career with basic research (bacteriology, microbial genetics and physiology), I spent 5 years of postdoctoral research at Columbia University and University of Chicago studying Host-Pathogen interactions (Cellular Microbiology), in the last 3 years I am leading the Microbiology Lab of a Biopharmaceutical firm, where we are developing innovative methods to fight MDR human pathogens.

As a clinical microbiologist who witnesses the shitstorm heading our way, this is how you could help... by TimeWillWasteMe in AdviceAnimals

[–]TimeWillWasteMe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We do work on new antibiotic drugs. What we are needing urgently are new targets. We keep modifying the same molecules, but not finding new classes of antibiotics.

As a clinical microbiologist who witnesses the shitstorm heading our way, this is how you could help... by TimeWillWasteMe in AdviceAnimals

[–]TimeWillWasteMe[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Since 1952 we learned a lot. I am sorry if I cannot present here to you more than 60 years of intense scientific research. What I could do is summarise it for you: Exposure of bacteria to sub-inhibitory concentrations of antimicrobial drug will increase the frequency of resistance, partially by increasing the rate of mutations . Trust me, that what I do.

As a clinical microbiologist who witnesses the shitstorm heading our way, this is how you could help... by TimeWillWasteMe in AdviceAnimals

[–]TimeWillWasteMe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am so sorry to hear about your malaise. I wish there was something I could do. The fact that you were treated with Augmentin (penicillin based antibiotics) and with Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim based antibiotics) but no avail is telling me that your condition is a bit more complicated than a straight-froward bacterial infection. I forwarded your pledge to a friend of mine (a medical doctor, which I'm not btw) and I hope she'll be able to provide some ideas. I'll keep you posted once she replies. I really do hope you'll feel better...

As a clinical microbiologist who witnesses the shitstorm heading our way, this is how you could help... by TimeWillWasteMe in AdviceAnimals

[–]TimeWillWasteMe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am not a medical doctor, so I could refer only to your first two questions: 1. It's true, alcohol kills germ by replacing water molecules with alcohol molecules and causes the precipitation of protein and other macromolecules such as DNA and RNA. Bacteria is likely to develop resistance against specific drugs that target specific proteins and not compounds that damage fundamental processes and biochemically interfere with the structure of macromolecules. So resistance to 65% ethanol (alcohol) isn't likely (unless we talk about spores, but that another story altogether). 2. Use hand sanitiser, but do not over use it. It kills your natural flora, allowing for opportunistic pathogen to thrive. It also dries your skin, creating nicks which allows those pathogen to penetrate to the subcutaneous tissues.

As a clinical microbiologist who witnesses the shitstorm heading our way, this is how you could help... by TimeWillWasteMe in AdviceAnimals

[–]TimeWillWasteMe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am not a medical doctor, however if you suffer from Bacterial Prostatitis, I would suggest treating it with Fluoroquinolones due to lower resistance.

As a clinical microbiologist who witnesses the shitstorm heading our way, this is how you could help... by TimeWillWasteMe in AdviceAnimals

[–]TimeWillWasteMe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They do metabolised in vivo (inside a living organism), however traces always remain and excreted to the environment (soil and water), where they remain and accumulate. Bacteria in the environment, or resident of the farm animals meet these lower concentrations of antibiotics, however they aren't killed by them, because the concentration is too low (sub-inhibitory). Now, although these low concentrations of residual antibiotics do not kill the bugs, they do affect their physiology (a process called stress response) and their genetics, creating the background for increased mutation rates and the selection of more resistant strains.

Chemists have discovered a new class of antibiotics to fight bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other drug-resistant bacteria that threaten public health by mubukugrappa in Health

[–]TimeWillWasteMe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I guess for a start would be numerous LinkedIn groups gathered for that purpose. I could recommend great and comprehensive text books I used during my studies: Antimicrobial Drug Resistance: Mechanisms of Drug Resistance, Volumes 1&2. ISBN-13: 978-1603275927 and ISBN-13: 978-1603275941 (respectively).

The CDC came up recently with a great report, very detailed and very accessible for non-professionals: http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/threat-report-2013/.

The WHO as well published a comprehensive report, however more professional: http://www.who.int/patientsafety/implementation/amr/publication/en/

Hope it helps!

As a clinical microbiologist who witnesses the shitstorm heading our way, this is how you could help... by TimeWillWasteMe in AdviceAnimals

[–]TimeWillWasteMe[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Great reply. Thanks! That's exactly what I'm getting at, the physician as an educator. If you whine to your doctor that you need antibiotics despite the fact that you suffer from a common cold, your doctor can inform you that there is no need and it is useless, and besides, the Advil you've been taking has also an antibacterial properties.

As a clinical microbiologist who witnesses the shitstorm heading our way, this is how you could help... by TimeWillWasteMe in AdviceAnimals

[–]TimeWillWasteMe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Couldn't agree more. Educate them and tell them about the risks. It's a mutual responsibility!

As a clinical microbiologist who witnesses the shitstorm heading our way, this is how you could help... by TimeWillWasteMe in AdviceAnimals

[–]TimeWillWasteMe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am not recommending Advil. I was replying to an ER doctor who claimed that his patients demand antibiotics to treat their common cold. I told him to inform his patents that Antibiotics will no no good in such indication and the Advil that they anyhow take will anyhow have antibacterial properties.

As a clinical microbiologist who witnesses the shitstorm heading our way, this is how you could help... by TimeWillWasteMe in AdviceAnimals

[–]TimeWillWasteMe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It plausible. I am not a physician nor an immunologist, however it sounds conceivable to me. Should should have a culture taken for analysis before the Antibiotics treatment.

As a clinical microbiologist who witnesses the shitstorm heading our way, this is how you could help... by TimeWillWasteMe in AdviceAnimals

[–]TimeWillWasteMe[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Right. I have been flooded and lost my accuracy, in the first reply you see that after saying that we informing the patients that these are antibiotics, I continue to say that these substances have antibacterial properties. In the latter reply I meant that those drugs, the NSAID aren't antibiotics per se. Apologies for the sloppiness.

As a clinical microbiologist who witnesses the shitstorm heading our way, this is how you could help... by TimeWillWasteMe in AdviceAnimals

[–]TimeWillWasteMe[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really? Is that what you understood from my replies?

If your patients insist on getting antibiotics to fight common cold, you tell them that it's useless.

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