Mercer Infection - Signs, Symptoms, and Treatments

Mercer infection is the one of the colloquial terms given for MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) infection. Initially, Staphylococcal resistance to antibiotics (especially to Penicillin) was unheard of. However, bacterias can mutate and develop good resistance against antibacterial medications including Penicillin, such as Methicillin, as well as against other Beta-lactam antibiotics such as Meropenem, Clavulanic acid and Tazobactam. Furthermore, resistance to Cephalosporins (such as Cefazolin, Cefuroxime, Ceftriaxone) were also studied and documented. Surprisingly, the causative agent that causes MRSA, the Staphylococcus Aureus, has natural colonies in the human body. These natural bacterial floras are mostly located inside the nostrils. The skin is also a natural haven for this microbe. They normally stay dormant and do not cause any health problems. When immunity weakens and there is a break in the protective integrity of the skin, Staphylococcus Aureus now becomes pathogenic. Staph infection is usually treated with Penicillin-class antibiotics. Often, Penicillin alone is quite effective. However, some strains of Staphylococcus had developed effective resistance, and mercer infection sets in. Signs and Symptoms In its early stage, signs and symptoms are generally fever and skin rashes. A raised, red skin lesion that looks like a pimple, a pustule or a group of red bumps, is also present. The common topical infection sites are wounds, cuts and abrasions, as well as the neck, inner thighs, back, the interior portion of the arms, and hairy portions of the body such as the beard, armpits and groin. Infection may spread to the sebaceous or apocrine glands located in the edges of the eyelid, creating a red, painful, swollen and irritating lump called a Sty or Hordeolum. As the infection worsens, skin lesions may feel warm due to inflammation, and can become more painful, swollen and larger, which can eventually rupture, creating a profound and purulent abscess. Complications If left untreated or if the causative agent has a strong resistance and virulence, it can cause havoc to other body tissues. Immediate medical intervention must be initiated when serious and life-threatening complications occur, such as Endocarditis (heart valve infection), Osteomyelilits (bone infection), Septicemia, or also known as Bacteremia, Toxic Shock Syndrome, severe cellulitis, and flesh-destructive complications like Pyomyositis, Necrotizing fasciitisand Necrotizing pneumonia. Risk Factors Mercer infection can either be community-acquired or CA-MRSA or healthcare/hospital-associated or HA-MRSA. Risk factors include a weak immune system especially on patients with HIV/AIDS and those undergoing long-term chemotherapy and steroidal therapy, pediatric and geriatric patients, prolonged and multiple hospitalization confinement, long-term antibiotic therapy, as this can hasten bacterial resistance, invasive procedures such as surgery, urinary catheters and dialysis, frequent skin contact like mutual sharing or poor disinfection of personal stuffs like towel and clothes, overcrowding, skin trauma such as wounds and cuts, as well as poor personal hygiene and sanitation. Mercer Infection Treatments Both categories of MRSA infection are treated by antibiotics. The class of antibacterial medication to be used is dependent on the severity. For mild to moderate infections, a sulfanomide combination of Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim (Bactrim) or Co-trimoxazole for short, has effective results. Broad spectrum and semi-synthetic tetracycline antibiotics like Minocycline and Doxycycline, as well as Clindamycin, a lincosamide antibiotic, had all shown successful remedies against mercer infection. However, when antibiotic therapy response is poor or when the prognosis worsens, a different line of antibiotics are given by an IV route. For severe mercer infection, Vancomycin (Vancocin) and Linezolid (Zyvox) had shown the best results and are now the drugs of preference. Other antibiotics may be prescribed, such as Daptomycin (Cubicin), a lipopeptide antibiotic, Tigecycline (Tygacil), as well as Telavancin (Vibativ), a potent MRSA bactericidal lipoglycopeptide. An antibiotic combination from the streptogramin-class, Quinupristin/Dalfopristin (Synercid), shows strong antibacterial action against MRSA as well. Prophylactic antibiotic therapy may be continued for up to 2 months to prevent recurrence. For topical skin lesions, antibacterial ointment or creams may be prescribed. Drainage of pus and fluid may be performed when severe skin problems occur. Preventive Measures and Home Remedies MRSA infection is contagious. It is always important to practice good hygiene and sanitation. Never share or use contaminated items. Patient's personal effects and even eating utensils should be segregated. Cover ruptured wounds with sterile dressings. Encourage frequent hand washing with antibacterial soaps and disinfect with alcohol or any antiseptic solution. Other effective home remedies include the use of essential oils, such as lemon grass oil and tea-tree oil. Mercer infection is a highly communicable and potentially dangerous disease. With early diagnosis and treatment, along with consistent application of preventive measures at home, MRSA infection is not complicated to deal with. However, before trying any treatments, especially with antibiotics, it is always prudent to seek your physician's advice first. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6090902

Weight Loss Medication Pros And Cons

Are you wondering about the Orlistat pros and cons for weight loss? Orlistat is a FDA approved medication to help people with weight loss. The over the counter version is called Alli, which has a smaller dosage for Orlistat than the prescription dosage found in Xenical. Like any medication, there are always risks and potential benefits, so let's review the Orlistat pros and cons to determine if it is right for you. Weighing the Orlistat pros and cons is an individual endeavor, but should be done with your physician even though it can be bought over the counter in some countries. All factors of your health, what you've tried so far in your weight loss goals and whether there is other things you could try, should all be considered very carefully. Many people including health care professionals sometimes take prescribing medicine as just the thing to do without really considering all options. Indeed, there are many people who benefit greatly from a variety of pharmaceutical intervention, even saving their lives, but still one should think it through and it is the same with Orlistat. Side Effects When Considering Orlistat Pros And Cons Orlistat works by preventing absorption of some of the fat from the foods we eat. Studies show that 91% of people taking Orlistat have at least 1 gastrointestinal side effect, frequently oily, loose stools. Related to that are increased gas, frequent and urgent bowel movements including some leaking out into the underwear. By the 4th year, only 36% experienced side effects. Eating a low fat diet tends to decrease side effects. With the use of this medication, the recommended maximum fat content per meal is 15 grams. Even bean salad and most chicken dishes are over that, so this in itself will be a challenge. There is speculation and study into this lower side effect causing people to start eating higher fat diets. The "aversion" to eating high fat diets is no longer present as when a person first started the medication. Study statistics when considering the Orlistat pros and cons are that 25.5 to 54.8% of the people using Orlistat accomplished 5% or more decrease in their total body mass, some of that was not body fat. Also, 16.4 to 24.8% accomplished at least 10% decrease in total body mass. Important to note though is that after the Orlistat was stopped, a large number of the people taking Orlistat in the study gained at least 35% of the weight back that they had lost while taking the medication. Additional Studies On Orlistat There was also a study done in Canada on 900 people taking the medication. It showed kidney injury of more than triple that of non-users. Liver issues are still being questioned as well. Another thing to consider is that it will inhibit the absorption of fat soluble vitamins. It also inhibits certain medications, so even if you purchase this over the counter, you should always consult your physician first. Orlistat Pros And Cons Summary So, in summary the cons found with the use of Orlistat for weight loss are the... 1. Potential side effects that could be unpleasant as mentioned above. 91% have at least one side effect. 2. Potential side effects that could be damaging to kidneys and liver. 3. Weight loss according to statistics is generally low. For example, in a year's time if you are 200 pounds and you lose 5%, that is 10 pounds. Or if you are one of the people who lose 10%, that would be 20 pounds. 4. You still need to make lifestyle changes for it to have lasting effects. (This is a pro also, depending on how you look at it). 5. Many people gain the weight back as soon as they stop the medication. The pros might be... 1. You have tried absolutely every thing else, including lifestyle changes and nothing has worked for you. This should be discussed with your doctor, but it may be determined that it is something to try to hopefully get things moving. 2. People who are on the verge of diabetes may benefit. There is a small percentage according to the study that were taking the medication that didn't develop diabetes. Maybe they never would have or maybe the weight loss helped. It is not clear. This may be a reason to try it if you and your doctor are concerned about that. Again, although considering the Orlistat pros and cons is an individual decision, it should be done with your physician. Obviously, there are cons or potential risks when taking any medication as well potential benefits. It is no different with Orlistat. People should make sure that they have tried a proven nutritional plan for weight loss including positive lifestyle changes and not just all the fad diets out there that often do more harm than good. There are also natural supplements that may have a similar action of preventing fat from being absorbed, which may have less side effects than Orlistat. Whatever is decided, weighing the Orlistat pros and cons should not be taken lightly. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7098915

How To Swallow Medicine

What you would not learn from your mother, the world will teach you. However there are some things that neither your mother, the globe or any business school have the curriculum, textbooks or teaching methods to instill. A large number of people continue to struggle on how to swallow their medicine because of this untaught skill. The choking, hopping and shaking behavior that accompanies your average pill swallowing session is evidence that many people would benefit from competent instructions in this skill. Weapons of war Pills come in two varieties: Capsules Tablets A capsule has a highly antisocial shape, because everything else that has that kind of similarity is a bullet and a missile, which is a weapon of war. It has that shape purposely to move smoothly through the air and kill a person, in the case of a weapon of war, or to move smoothly down the gullet and kill a few microbes, in the case of a capsule. The problem is that there is a good possibility of misfiring, especially when the capsule has moved around the mouth in some water before being fired or swallowed. There is nothing like the feeling of a capsule forcing its way down the gullet at an angle. Swallowing a tablet is even worse because tablets are prone to maliciously disintegrating in the mouth, targeting the exact spot of the tongue that is capable of tasting bitterness. That is a bitter pill to swallow. Challenges of administering drugs does not end with the round things. Pharmacies are full of drops for eyes, nose and ears, inhalers, ointments, injections and all sorts of other aids which should have a certificate course to master. Opening your eyelid, and then hope that some of the liquid will find its way in as water always seeps in at the lowest point. For inhalers, I can never figure out whether you have to breath in first or vice versa. Which of us know how to keep nose or ear drops in place when both gravity and anatomy conspire to make sure that the relief never quite hits the spot? Communication issues Before encountering the medicine taking problem, it is likely that you have been to see a doctor. Do you know how to talk to one? I suspect that this is another area where education is deficient. When faced with a medical problem, most human beings seem to revert to one of two types of behavior. There are those from whom extracting any information flows so freely that stopping it is like getting water from an open tap. Others are those from whom irrelevant information flows so freely that stopping it is like trying to seal a leaking pipe with bare hands. Article Source: http://www.streetarticles.com/medicine/how-to-swallow-medicine