Virus kills dozens - Montreal and Calgary

[dArKeR]

Montreal — A virulent infection has killed dozens of people in Montreal and Calgary, it was announced Friday.

Local hospital officials in Montreal said that at least three dozen people had died of the virus. The Canadian Medical Association Journal said the toll could be as high as 89, including 10 in Calgary.

The infection, Clostridium difficile, is the most common cause of infectious diarrhea in the industrialized world, and research suggests that 20 per cent of people who contract it get it from taking antibiotics.

Dr. Francoise Chagnon, director of professional services at the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, said that she stands by the hospital's decision not to alert the public immediately but feels now that it is time for Canadians to be notified.

http://theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040604.wviru0604/BNStory/National/

[Systematic Chaos]

1. Oh, man, I wonder if I had that last year...?

I can't be certain of the exact timing, but I seem to remember that it wasn't too long after completing a run of antibiotics for a sinus infection that I suddenly came down with horrible diarrhea for 8 days. There was no nausea to speak of so that ruled out stomach flu. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced before and now that's yet another reason for people to try and strengthen their immune systems naturally.

Between this crap and the spreading of flesh-eating bacteria that are immune to ALL known antibiotics, I think we're in some serious trouble. :scared:

[still_one]

7. Hey, if you have a bacterial infection

i.e. strep or staph, and you don't treat it with the appropriate antibiotics, you will never have the opportunity to build up your resistence.

All antibiotics can disturb the normal bacteria in the intestine. The important thing to remember is to use antibiotics when you need them, and not if you are dealing with a virus...

Common strep infections include those in the upper respiratory tract (often strep throat); scarlet fever, (which includes skin involvement and can be very mild or extremely serious); strep pneumonia (which can also be quite serious -- and is what is reported to have killed Muppets creator Jim Hensen); strep skin infections (such as impetigo); strep vaginitis in pre-pubertal girls; and strep bacteremia (or Strep in the bloodstream), which can then lead to meningitis, brain abscess, bone infections, joint infections, or even endocarditis (an infection of the valves of the heart).

In other words use common sense...

[AP]

2. Apparently there's one expensive drug that isn't distributed in a couple..

..provinces but is distributed widely in the places where the most infections have been.

The study that identified this problem concluded that many of the people given drugs who subsequently got sick probably didn't need the antibiotics they were given.

The first question that came to mind when I read about this was, I wonder how much the drug industry is passing under the table to get these Drs to overprescribe these antibiotics.

I also thought this is a good reason to regulate the profit motive in health care, even if it is an area that is tangential, like drug manufacturing and sales.

[Philostopher]

3. Not to sound like I'm arguing with the article ...

but Clostridium Dificile is, in fact, a bacterium. It takes over the large intestine when the flora are off from use of antibiotics. Antibiotics have no effect on virii -- it's why they're so often overprescribed, because so many people don't understand there's a difference, and that antibiotics only work on bacteria.

Not trying to take anything away from the article, mind you -- I had to quit taking an antibiotic for an infection a couple of years ago because my doctor and I both thought I was starting to suffer this. I recovered too fast for it to have been, but it was kind of scary -- the fatality rate is kind of high for this stuff.

[al bupp]

4. Harvard Med School Report

This report's apparently from 2001, and deals w/ the bacterium in question, and not, of course the recent report from Canada:

http://www.aboutibs.org/Publications/CDifficile.html

The upshot is, it appears to be a well known bane for those who have to endure long hospital stays along w/ certain antibiotics. It's known to be particularly bad for the elderly, those w/ AIDS, Crone's Disease or other chronic conditions involving the bowels.

[crossroads]

11. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[stepnw1f]

5. Create A Virus For The Vacine

I gaurantee the drug companies have already thought of this one.

[Sugarbleus]

6. Ewwwwww

Any time I take anti biotics, I get the runs. So, I don't get it.

People are dying from diarrhea in Canada? That's not a good sign.
Better call my friend in Calgary.

I can just see this being made into a case for NOT allowing Americans import canadian drugs: FDA etc. (not to mention the part about drug companies and the almighty buck) Interesting piece. Thanks

[ironflange]

14. Calgary here

I've heard absolutely nothing about this. The big disease right now is "Flames Fever."

[mzmolly]

8. Acidophilus ...take it when you take antibiotics! It restores good

bacteria in the gut. :hi:

[crossroads]

10. Thanks!

I heard that somewhere... whenever you take antibiotics... you reminded me!
:hi:

[mzmolly]

12. No problemo! Also if you are nursing a babe, you are already providing

*good* bacteria to said babe. ;)

And, yogurt contains the same good bacteria that promotes a healthy gut. :hi:

[nodehopper]

17. yeah, if the yogurt contains live lactobacilli, non-pausterilzed yogurt

[freeforall]

16. Eating yogurt with acidophilus / bifidus works as well

...after you finish the course of antibiotics. I have tried this and have never had any problems with my system after taking antibiotics.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

20. you should ALWAYS eat "active culture yogurt" while on antibiotics to

replenishes the good bacteria in the intenstinal tract that the antibiotics kill

[crossroads]

9. Just my luck... my Dr. started me on Nexium last week...

for stomach acid, now I've *really* got something to get an acid stomach about!!! FYI, (in case anyone is curious, Nexium is the 'proton pump' drug mentioned in the article)... What ya gonna do?
:shrug:

[mzmolly]

13. Read post # 8.

;)

[shraby]

15. I believe cranberry juice works

the same as yogurt to replace the "good" bacteria that is destroyed with antibiotics.

[bread_and_roses]

21. I don't think so

I believe you are thinking of restoring proper ph to urinary tract, also not a bad idea. But I have never read that the "good bacteria" that live in yogurt live in cranberry juice.

[WhiteTara]

24. cranberries contain antimicrobials

rather than replacing bacteria, cranberries kill off microbs as opposed to antibotics killing off all bacteria.

[librechik]

18. Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate!

babes in particular!

[farmbo]

19. The only known cure: Returning Lord Stanley's Cup to Canada!!

Go Flames!!!

[montana_hazeleyes]

22. Now I get it !

I was going to ask what is Flames fever from an earlier post!

[bicentennial_baby]

23. What a horribly written article....Clostridium is not a virus!

Clostridium is a bacterial infection, not a virus. What a crappy writer.