RINGS/HOSPITAL ACQUIRED INFECTIONS
Wedding rings of hospital nurses have been shown to harbor
micro-organisms which may lead to the spread of infection in
hospitals. (Hospital Tribune, May 8, 1985, Page 2) Copyright Phylis Austin
YERSINIA ENTEROCOLITICA INFECTION/TOFU
Fifty cases of Yersinia Enterocolitica occurred in Washington state
in late 1981 and early 1982. One patient underwent a partial
colectomy (removal of the colon) and two others underwent
appendectomies as a result of the gastrointestinal infection. The
infection was traced to untreated spring water used by a local tofu
producer. This study points out that even so-called "natural" foods
may become contaminated and carry health hazards. (American Journal
of Epidemiology 121(5)705-11, 1985) Generally speaking, the more
simple the food and the less processed it is, the more healthful
and safe the food will be. Copyright Phylis Austin
CHICKENPOX/ITCHING/SPRAY STARCH
Pennsylvania pediatricians report that an application of spray
starch to chickenpox lesions greatly reduces itching. (Medical
Times 114(7)93, July 1986) Copyright Phylis Austin
HEADACHE/EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS
Epstein-Barr virus may induce daily, persistent headaches reports
Walter Vanast, a University of Alberta neurologist. Dr. Vanast's
patient population suffered daily headaches of sudden onset, with
no prior precipitating events. He states that headache may be the
only symptom in this newly-identified syndrome. Headaches in 68
percent of the male patients and 52 percent of female patients
disappeared within six months without treatment. With two years 85
percent of the males and 73 percent of females were headache free.
Dr. Vanast feels that these patients should be spared the use of
numerous drugs, psychotherapy and psychiatrists. The best
treatment to is reassure the patients that they will likely
improve spontaneously within 24 months. (Medical Tribune 27(24)9,
August 27, 1986) Copyright Phylis Austin
FATIGUE/EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS
Chronic sleepiness and fatigue may continue for years after
Epstein-barr induced mononucleosis, report two Stanford University
researchers. Treatment produced only mild improvement in symptoms.
(Archives of Internal Medicine 146:1333-1335, July, 1986) Copyright Phylis Austin
GAMMA GLOBULIN/AIDS ANTIBODIES
The entire United States supply of gamma globulin is positive for
the AIDS (HTVL-III) antibody according to a recent letter to the
editor in Journal of the American Medical Association (255(5)609,
February 7, 1986). Gamma globulin is used by some physicians to
prevent disease such as chickenpox, and as a general protective
measure for foreign travelers. Copyright Phylis Austin
AIDS TESTS
The AIDS test used by the American Red Cross to screen for AIDS
demonstrated antibodies in 17 of 30 cases. The test used by the U.
S. military service missed the antibodies in 26 out of the 30
cases. It has been suggested that when possible a person who is
undergoing surgery which may require blood should give blood to be
set aside for their own use after surgery. Over 22,000 AIDS cases
have been reported in the United States. (American Medical News,
July 18, 1986, p. 7,8) Copyright Phylis Austin
RECTAL AND COLON SCOPES/AIDS VIRUS
Physicians who perform sigmoidoscopies or colonscopies in their
office may spread the AIDS virus if the scope is improperly cleaned
after examination of an AIDS patient. Most physicians do not have
the proper equipment in their office to clean the scopes. Gas
sterilization, which requires specialized apparatus, is most
effective, but is typically found only in hospitals. Most
endoscopists use glutaraldehyde, a common disinfectant, but the
American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy recommends that gas
sterilization be used after examination of an AIDS-infected
patient. However, flexible sigmoidoscopes will not tolerate the
heat of the pressure of gas sterilization, and must be cleaned with
glutaraldehyde. (Medical Tribune) Copyright Phylis Austin
CONDOMS/AIDS
While condom use is advocated in the practice of safe sex the
question remains as to the effectiveness of their use. A recent
report revealed that defective condoms may pass federal inspection
and be placed on the market.
FDA standards require that less than four per 1,000 latex condoms
leak during testing. Not all condoms are tested and many defective
condoms may be on the market. (Medical Tribune 28(36)1, 17,
September 23, 1987) It remains a historical fact that the only safe
sex is inside the narrow confines of a faithful monogamous
marriage. Only safe sex brings happiness. Copyright Phylis Austin
EGGS/FOOD POISONING
Raw or undercooked eggs which are found in many prepared foods may be causing an
increase in the incidence of food poisoning in the United States. In the years from 1975 to
1987 eleven deaths were attributed to Salmonella poisoning, and more than 77 percent of
these cases were traced to contaminated eggs. These eggs often had been certified as Grade
A on inspection. (Journal of the American Medical Association 259(14)2103-2107, April 18,
1988) Copyright Phylis Austin
GARLIC/AIDS
Garlic has been known through the ages to have medicinal properties. A recent review of
studies points out that garlic may be beneficial in cancer, heavy metal poisoning, high blood
pressure, infectious diseases, high levels of fat in the blood, immune deficiency states, and
a number of other diseases. The authors of this study suggest that garlic may be helpful in
the treatment of AIDS. (Journal of the National Medical Association 80(4)439-445, 1988) Copyright Phylis Austin
CATS/LYME DISEASE
Cat owners are at increased risk of developing Lyme disease,
according to a report from New York Medical College. In the mid-
1970's, when the method of transmission was unclear researchers
observed that cases were more common in cat owners than in non-cat
owners.
A more recent follow-up to this observation reveals that cats which
are allowed outside during the day and kept in the house at night
carried in the disease-transmitting ticks.
Lyme disease manifests as an arthritic process, usually involving
large joints, with symptoms lasting one to two weeks to months.
Symptoms may resolve, only to recur, and in some may be persistent.
There is often an associated skin rash. Complications include
meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the spinal cord and brain),
neuritis (inflammation of a nerve), and carditis (inflammation of
the heart). (New England Journal of Medicine 320(3)183, January
19, 1989) Copyright Phylis Austin
RUBBER GLOVES/AIDS
The current concern about AIDS has created a great demand and price
increase in rubber gloves. To meet these shortages some medical
centers are washing and reusing rubber gloves. A study carried out
at the University of Iowa suggests that this is not adequate to
ensure that all bacteria are destroyed. Several different types of
bacteria were shown to be capable of surviving this treatment and
remaining on the gloves. This study suggests that if you undergo
a medical procedure you should insist that the medical staff use
new gloves, not used gloves which have been washed. (Annals of
Internal Medicine 109:394, September, 1988) Copyright Phylis Austin
CHICKENPOX/ACETAMINOPHEN
Parents are cautioned against the use of aspirin in children with
viral disease because of the association with Reye's syndrome.
Therefore, many parents give acetaminophen (Tylenol, Datril,
Panadol) for fever. A study from Johns Hopkins in Baltimore,
Maryland, indicates that children with chickenpox who are given
acetaminophen to reduce fever have symptoms for a longer time than
do those children whose fever is not treated with medication.
(Journal of Pediatrics 114:1045-8, 1989) The researchers concluded
that fever was the body's natural response to illness, and was
helpful in fighting off the infection. Copyright Phylis Austin
HONEY/INFECTED WOUNDS
An Australian physician reports that he has found the application
of honey a very effective treatment for a variety of infected
wounds. (Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 83:127, February
1990) Copyright Phylis Austin
MENINGITIS/PETS
Parents should not allow the family pet to nuzzle or lick a child's
face according to a study from New Jersey. Physicians at St.
Peter's Medical Center in New Brunswick, New Jersey, report that a
young infant acquired Pasteurella multocida bacteria which caused
meningitis (inflammation of the brain and/or spinal cord). The
parents were attempted to bond the infant and the family pet by
allowing the dog to lick the child's face. (Pediatric News 24(8)23,
August 1990) Copyright Phylis Austin
HOSPITAL ACQUIRED INFECTIONS
A study carried out by the Centers for Disease Control reveals that
hospital-acquired infections have become more common during the
last decade and more likely to be resistant to antibiotics. Part
of this increase is felt to be due to an increased use of invasive
medical techniques and to the inappropriate use of antibiotics.
(Medical World News, September, 1990, p. 12, 13) Copyright Phylis Austin
RUBBER GLOVES/AIDS
In order to reduce expenses, and because of a temporary shortage of
rubber gloves, some health professionals have begun the practice of
washing their gloved hands between patients, rather than changing
and discarding the gloves. A recent study has suggested that this
practice may not be effective. Gloves washed in standard
handcleansers still contained organisms after washing, and these
may be transferred to the next patient who comes in contact with
the gloves. The researchers conclude that health care workers
should remove the gloves, wash their hands, and use a new set of
gloves for each patient. (Annals of Internal Medicine 109:394-398,
September 1, 1988). Insist on a new pair of gloves for any
examination you may be undergoing. Copyright Phylis Austin
CATS/TOXOPLASMOSIS
Pregnant women have been warned to let someone else clean the cat
litter box to prevent exposure to toxoplasma, which may be fatal to
the developing infant. A recent study suggests that even living
with a cat may expose one to toxoplasma. Rural children who shared
their house with more than one cat were more than twice as likely
to be infected as those with only one cat. They were three times
more likely to be infected than children who did not have cats in
their home. (Pediatrics 89(6)1169-72, June 1992) If you have
children, don't have pets in the home. Copyright Phylis Austin
CATS/TOXOPLASMOSIS
Pregnant women have been warned to let someone else clean the cat
litter box to prevent exposure to toxoplasma, which may be fatal to
the developing infant. A recent study suggests that even living
with a cat may expose one to toxoplasma. Rural children who shared
their house with more than one cat were more than twice as likely
to be infected as those with only one cat. They were three times
more likely to be infected than children who did not have cats in
their home. (Pediatrics 89(6)1169-72, June 1992) If you have
children, don't have pets in the home. Copyright Phylis Austin
HIV/CADAVERS
A study from Milwaukee calls into question the common practice of
flushing untreated blood from autopsies and funeral homes into the
city sewer system. They have observed that HIV-infected blood
remains viable for hours after the death of an AIDS victim, and may
remain viable for days in untreated raw sewage. (Medical Tribune
34(8)4, April 28, 1993) Copyright Phylis Austin
AIDS
A survey of doctors revealed that only 23 percent of doctors would
eat home-made cookies given to them by a patient they had treated
for AIDS. (Postgraduate Medicine 86(1)174-86, July 1989) Copyright Phylis Austin
HIV VIRUS/CADAVERS
A recent report in the New England Journal of Medicine cautions
anatomy teachers that HIV virus may survive embalming procedures,
and represent a risk to medical students. HIV virus has been
reported to be infectious even 16 days after the death of an AIDS
patient. (New England Journal of Medicine 331(19)1315, November
10, 1994) Copyright Phylis Austin
NSAIDS/MENTAL IMPAIRMENT
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may cause mental impairment in
the elderly. Some of the memory loss reported in elderly people
may be caused by these frequently given medications.
(Arthritis and Rheumatism 37(9 Suppl)S197, September 1994) Copyright Phylis Austin
NSAIDS/HEALTH CARE COSTS
A study of over 75,000 Tennessee Medicaid enrolles who were at
least 65 years of age revealed that NSAIDS, other than aspirin,
caused increased medical expenses for the diagnosis and treatment
of gastrointestinal diseases. Occasional NSAID users required an
additional $46 in medical costs, while regular users had an excess
of $111 in medical expenses. (Journal of General Internal Medicine
11:461-469, 1996) Aspirin use was not included in the study as
they followed only patients given prescription NSAIDs, but aspirin
cannot be considered risk free in this group. Copyright Phylis Austin