Antibiotic Resistance, Immune System Evasion and You

Have you seen a doctor or a health care professional recently? Did he or she shake hands? Did he or she inconspicuously or blatantly use hand sanitizer thereafter or washed his or her hands? If your doctor is not the convivial type, you may have to guess if you are afraid to ask. The so called nosocomial infections are an increasing concern. These are infections picked up in medical settings usually resistant but not always iatrogenic or physician (health care professional) caused. These illnesses may be mild or severe, but by and large are problems because of pathogen resistance to antibiotics and antiviral agents (much fewer) or their ability to compromise or evade the host (your) immune system.

The second CDC report (AR Threats Report), Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, issued this November indicated that more people are dying from antibiotic resistant infections than estimated. The report states, "Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi cause more than 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths in the United States each year."..."when Clostridiodes dificile, bacteria associated with antibiotic use, is included, the U.S. toll of all the threats in the report exceeds 3 million infections and 48,000 deaths." If you are recovering from an illness, you can reinfect yourself by careless use of utensils, handkerchiefs, a kiss or a handshake.

If this is indeed an age of anxiety, given the speed of technological change, the chewing up of jobs, the increase of digital answers to problems increasing the use of artificial intelligence,..all promote the pursuit of pleasurable escape. This was discussed in a previous post, but vaping which was not discussed, indicates a new frontier which escapes knowledgeable scrutiny and regulation. The flavors which are used in the preparation of brands age and interact producing new and unpredictable compounds. Even if a substance is identified, its toxicity is likely based on interaction with digestive processes, blood and nervous systems. Its reactivity with pulmonary alveoli and bronchial structures is probably unknown.

All this relates back to the profit motive and what measures are needed in a democratic society to curb profit when it's free reign demonstrably threatens a new generation and our future. Is your regional public health office functioning? To what state agency does it report? Does your local politician have a liaison with that health office? Is there a connection to congressional offices? What function does the USPHS serve for all or any of the foregoing? The next epidemic is around the corner!