Super Drug for A Super Bug?
Dare I believe my eyes? A new weapon is bursting into the bacterial battle from the halls of the FDA. It's name? Synercid. This is the first alternative in 30 years to the current antibiotic of last resort, vancomycin. But physicians have been warned that it's not a magic medication.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved its use only in certain infections because it works well against some germs but not others. Overuse of Synercid will result in the same decrease in effectiveness as has been seen with vancomycin.
One circumstance that will certainly decrease the use of this drug is its cost. Synercid is predicted to cost $85 per intravenous vial, more than four times the cost of vancomycin.
The Associated Press, September 22, 1999
Stressed to Death!
In a paper/presentation delivered at the 48th annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology, the relationship to stress and cardiac ischemia was assessed. The authors concluded that heart disease patients are at increased risk of death if they suffer from cardiac ischemia caused by psychological stress.
It was found that, while specific psychological traits are not associated with heart disease, those patients who developed ischemia in response to mental stress had a significantly higher risk of dying versus those patients who did not develop ischemia.
The authors note that the increased risk did not appear to be accounted for by depression, anger, or other psychological traits.
7th International Nursing Informatics Congress
One Step Beyond: The Evolution of Technology and Nursing
April 28-29th, 2000 Pre Congress Tutorials
April 30, 2000 Opening Ceremony and Welcome Function
May 1-3, 2000 Main Symposium
Aotea Centre-Auckland-New Zealand
For more information and to register online: http://www.ni2000.co.nz
Send e-mail queries to Linda McKay:[email protected]
Rub It In, Rub It In!
Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) are used to treat musculoskeletal conditions including soft tissue injuries and various arthropathies. Studies are being performed using topical preparations of NSAIDS to provide pain relief at the target site. Data on the long-term tolerability of these agents is still pending. However, there is some indication that systemic adverse reactions, although still reported, are likely to be fewer with topically administered NSAIDs than with oral administration. Further testing is necessary prior to release of the preparation.
http://pharmacotherapy.medscape.com
FDA-Approved Glucose Monitoring System for Diabetics
The FDA has approved a first-of-its-kind medical device that provides physicians with continuous measures of tissue glucose levels in adults with diabetes. The Continuous Glucose Monitoring System records tissue glucose levels at 5-minute intervals for up to 3 days. This information can be downloaded on a computer for review by healthcare professionals.
FDA based approval of the monitoring system on results of a study involving more than 7,000 glucose readings in 62 diabetic adults who were evaluated at four medical centers in the United States. The study showed that the system could help identify glucose trends and supplement standard readings obtained with traditional blood glucose fingerstick measurements.
HHS News, Department of Health and Human Services
"Like A Candle in Your Ear"
An old method of treating upper respiratory problems is making a comeback despite physician concerns that it may be dangerous. The treatment involves burning candles in patient's ears, a practice called "ear candling."
Touted to alleviate upper respiratory and sinus problems, supporters claim that candling can also help eliminate migraine headaches and tinnitus. The procedure is reported to work by removing earwax, bacteria, and fungus by creating a vacuum in the ear canal.
Dr. Alan Langman of Allegheny University became interested in ear candling after seeing several patients with injuries from this practice. Particularly, Dr. Langman has seen infections of the external ear canal, burns of the ear canal, and holes in the eardrums following use of the candle. Furthermore, testing by Dr. Langman discovered no vacuum or negative pressure created by a burning ear candle and found that some of the wax was pushed in deeper because of the placement of the ear candle.
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/alternative
Do Patients Report How They Really Feel?
Patients with terminal cancer have widely fluctuating variances in their reported desire to keep on living, even over short periods of time. The will to live was measured in 168 terminal cancer patients ages 31 to 89 by use of a scale indicating will to live as well as experiences such as depression, anxiety, sense of well being, difficulty breathing, and pain.
For individual patients the will to live score fluctuated greatly; an average of 30 points out of 100 in just a 12-hour period. Some patients varied by the full 100 points within one measurement period. Patient scores on depression, anxiety, difficulty breathing, and sense of well-being were the most significant predictors of will to live.
As patients neared death, physical factors became better predictors than psychological factors. These findings have implications for improving palliative care for this group of patients as well as for policies on physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia.
Lancet 1999; 354, 816-819
These Days-Don't Graze!
The FDA has received numerous reports of illnesses associated with the consumption of raw sprouts (e.g., alfalfa, clover, and radish). This information is extremely important for children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. People in these categories should not eat raw sprouts.
Since 1995, raw sprouts have been a recognized source of food-borne illness in the U. S. These illnesses have involved the pathogenic bacteria Salmonella and E. coli O157. Alfalfa and clover sprouts have been involved most often; however, all raw sprouts may pose a risk. The FDA offers the following advice to all consumers concerning sprouts:
Cook sprouts. This significantly reduces the risk of illness.
Check sandwiches and salads purchased at restaurants and delicatessens. These entrees often contain raw sprouts. Those who wish to reduce their risk of food-borne illness should specifically request that raw sprouts not be added to their food.
Sprouts grown in the home also present a risk if eaten raw. Many outbreaks have been attributed to contaminated seed. If pathogenic bacteria are present in or on seed, they can grow to high levels during sprouting even under clean conditions.
Now you know why your mother wouldn't let you eat grass when you were a baby!