Vancomycin

Health care has been significantly improved since the discovery of antibiotics. Before the Second World War, sulfonamides were the treatment of choice to fight bacteria and have been very satisfactory, but does not cover all agencies that have attacked humans. Consequently, many deaths and even more suffered debilitating disease. Antibiotics were the answer to the fight against infections.

As time went on, improved antibiotics have been created, broadening the range of rates of removal of bacteria. They work in one of two ways. The first is bacteriostatic. This inhibits the ability of bacteria to reproduce. In doing so, they die because they can not sustain their populations. The second is bactericidal. This method directly kills bacteria in forms ranging from destroying the cell wall disrupting their metabolism. Choosing the right antibiotic depends on the bacteria involved, the age and type of patient and the level of toxicity permitted.

Evolution is a fact of life, and treatment of bacteria is no exception. Because antibiotics have been used, the bacteria have become resistant to them through the evolution. Thus, new and better needs to be developed. We're on the fourth generation fluoroquinolones as the most advanced level of antibiotics. The actual average duration of an antibiotic has been reduced to only several years before a high percentage of bacteria becoming resistant to them. This is partly due to the use by physicians on medications. A sad fact but true.

We are now faced with a devil, and the mortal body as MRSA or methicillin resistant staph bacteria Staphylococcus. It was published in the news because it is a bacteria resistant to antibiotics, which has a very high fatality rate when involved in the bloodstream. The usual scenario is that the patient goes to the doctor with an infection and is treated with standard antibiotics. They return to the doctor a few days after getting worse, and then are treated with stronger. Unfortunately, once the infection gets into the blood, it is often too late. If it is an infection of the skin, the affected area can be removed surgically, but if it has spread, the results are too often fatal.

The best treatment for MRSA is vancomycin. So the logical question is why not treat all patients with him. The answer is that it is a very strong antibiotic, and is very toxic. If it is not MRSA, the patient may become resistant to it and, if necessary, then it will not work. Plus it is toxic and should be used only when necessary. A current problem is that it has been more used, and there are MRSA bacteria that have already become resistant. This means that if necessary, it will not work, and may cause patient death.

In short, if you have an infection, see your doctor as soon as possible and be aware that if you do not improve within a few days back to him, because you may have MRSA and may need further treatment. Do not do it, can be fatal.