To Your HealthTYH Archives

April 27, 2000 [Volume 1, Issue 11]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

  • Antibiotic Resistance on the Rise
  • Protecting Toddlers Against Lead Poisioning
  • Road to Recovery Is Paved with Nutrition

Antibiotic Resistance on the Rise

Antibiotics are commonly used to combat a variety of bacterial infections. The more resistant a bacterial strain becomes to a particular antibiotic, the less effect the antibiotic has in fighting the infection.

There has been a substantial increase in the colonization and infection of hospital patients in England and Wales by strains of staphylococcus aureus (S aureus) bacteria resistant to methicillin and other antibiotics. (Methicillin is an antibiotic which has been used in part because some bacterial infections have already become resistant to penicillin.) This study analyzed 10 commonly used antibiotics and their relative effectiveness against S Aureus from 1989-1995.

Findings indicate that resistance rates of S aureus to antibiotics have increased dramatically. This increasing resistance supports a health care model that stresses prevention (such as chiropractic). These findings also point toward the importance of developing appropriate antibiotic policies and/or guidelines. If your physician wants to prescribe an antibiotic for you or a loved one, be sure that it is absolutely necessary. Otherwise, its use may be building unnecessary antibiotic resistance.

Speller DCE, Johnson AP, et al. Resistance to methicillin and other antibiotics in isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from blood and cerebrospinal fluid, England and Wales, 1989-1995. Lancet, August 2, 1997: Vol. 350, pp323-25.

Protecting Toddlers Against Lead Poisoning

Household dust may be a major source of exposure for children with elevated blood lead levels. This randomized trial was designed to test the hypothesis that regular vigorous household cleaning could reduce exposure to lead and blood lead levels.

All mothers in the study were educated on the importance of adequate housecleaning and biweekly assistance with household cleaning. Two trained lay workers did the cleaning, focusing on wet mopping floors, damp-sponging walls and horizontal surfaces, and vacuuming with a high-efficiency particle-accumulating vacuum. Household dust lead levels, blood lead levels of the children, and maternal knowledge of lead poisoning were measured before and after the study.

Results after a year of follow-up: "Blood lead fell 17% in the intervention group and did not change among controls. Household dust and dust lead measures also fell significantly in the intervention group. Children in homes cleaned 20 or more times throughout the year had an average blood lead reduction of 34%."

Conclusion: The utility of regular home cleaning, accompanied by maternal education, is "a safe and partially effective intervention that should be recommended for the large majority of lead-exposed children for whom, unfortunately, removal to lead-safe housing is not an option."

Rhoads GC, Ettinger AS, Weisel CP, et al. The effect of dust lead control on blood lead in toddlers: A randomized trial. Pediatrics, Mar. 1999: Vol. 103, No. 3, pp551-55.

Road to Recovery Is Paved with Nutrition

If youíve recently suffered an injury, youíre probably all too familiar with the physical rigors of rehabilitation. Regaining strength and endurance in injured muscles, joints or tissue is a complex process requiring consideration of physical, biological, physiological and nutritional factors.

Speaking of nutrition, a review paper in the Journal of Sports Chiropractic & Rehabilitation addresses the value of nutrition in returning patients to preinjury status. Various nutritional considerations are discussed, including:

  • specific energy and nutrient requirements;
  • ways of reducing inflammation (enzymes, amino acids, herbs/botanicals);
  • repairing/strengthening tissue (glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate); and
  • avoiding potential food sensitivities (corn, wheat, milk products, red meat, etc.)

Whether youíre recovering from injury or just trying to maximize health and wellness, proper nutrition is a good place to start. Consult with your chiropractor to develop nutritional and exercise guidelines appropriate to your needs.

Simon JJ. Rehabilitative nutrition. Journal of Sports Chiropractic & Rehabilitation, Dec. 1999: Vol. 13, No. 4, pp145-49.

For additional information on nutrition, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/nutrients.html.

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