http://www.care2.com/greenliving/can-i-overuse-antibiotics.html
Can I Overuse Antibiotics?
Q: What’s MRSA, and does it have anything to do with the overuse of antibiotics?
A: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a mutated form of the common Staph bacteria. The mutation likely developed from the over-use of antibiotics. Over time, the bacteria evolved to the point that it became resistant to the most common drugs used for treating such infections.
About 1/3 of the population has MRSA living on their skin or in their nose, and it usually only presents a problem when a cut or opening in the skin or mucosal membrane allows the bacteria to enter into bloodstream.
Take matters into your own hands. The next time your doctor recommends an antibiotic, be sure to ask if you REALLY need it.
Dr. Brent Ridge is the health expert for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. You can call and ask him a question live every Tuesday at 2 p.m. Eastern on Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 112 (1.866.675.6675). You can also follow along as he learns to grow his own food and raise goats on his farm in upstate New York by visiting www.beekman1802.com.
Got a health question for Dr. Brent? E-mail him at drbrent@care2.com.
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why is this inappropriate?
Lots of abx (antibiotics) are needed, for long periods of time, for different things. They are safe to be on for years and years if you need to be (my mom has been on an abx for ten years for adult acne with no problems), as long as you take plenty of probiotics.
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MRSA does spread through direct contact. What this article is saying is that people become colonized with staph aureus bacteria (including MRSA) yet it frequently does not cause disease. Can you become infected? You can pick it up by direct contact with others, but if you are healthy, have no open wounds, etc. you may not actually get sick from it. You will just carry it like the person you got it from.
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Thank you Jodi. I found the article on webmd to be very helpful.
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Naomi.....
check out this link. It has some info about MRSA and how it can be passed on through contact.
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/methicillin-resistant-staphylococcus-aureus-mrsa-overview
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I'm wondering if anyone might have any information or suggestions for my situation. My husband recently got a tattoo. It became infected and the dermatologist said that it was MRSA. He prescribed antibiotics and I've been helping him care for it. My concern is that me or my small children have been exposed to this, and wonder if we could have contracted it or if this could be a problem for us in the future. My kids an I have been fighting cold like symptoms for a few days now. Could this be linked? should I be concerned?
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You can douche with vinegar for yeast infections. 1/4 cup vinegar to 2 cups of warm water.
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Naomi that probably is the way people get it to from over use of drugs. I am not sure if it spreads through contact but I would think it is possible.
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Probably so, isn't that how it spreads? Through contact. If you are healthy, it probably won't make you sick. This article is just stating that 1/3 people have it, so if they get a prescription for bacteria it probably won't work on them is what I am getting. I am not an expert though.
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Also, I heard of an infant who was diagnosed with mrsa, is an over use of antibiotics the only was that people get mrsa?
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