World Health Organization Lists Twelve Highest Priority Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

When Do I Need An Antibiotic? Do Antibiotics Work?

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a list of twelve “Priority Pathogens” that pose a great health risk to mankind. The WHO is asking that researchers focus on development of new antibiotics to fight these bacteria.

World Health Organization Lists Twelve Highest Priority Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Austin TX Chiropractor Natural Healthcare without Drugs or MedicineIn a February 27, 2017, release titled, “WHO publishes list of bacteria for which new antibiotics are urgently needed”, the WHO points out that this list represents a growing concern about the ineffectiveness of antibiotic usage against bacteria that have been evolving and adapting quickly.

Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Health Systems and Innovation stated, “Antibiotic resistance is growing, and we are fast running out of treatment options. If we leave it to market forces alone, the new antibiotics we most urgently need are not going to be developed in time.” In an interview, Dr. Kieny continued, “This list is not meant to scare people about new superbugs. It’s intended to signal research and development priorities to address urgent public health threat.”

Just two days earlier, the Washington Post ran an article titled, “Dangerous antibiotic-resistant infections on the rise for children in the U.S., study finds.” This new study published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society highlighted how big the problem of antibiotic resistance has become. This study found that 3 out of 5 children admitted to hospitals already had an antibiotic-resistant infection.

Dr. Sharon Meropol, the study’s lead author and an assistant professor of pediatrics, epidemiology and biostatistics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine commented, “Antibiotic resistance increasingly threatens our ability to treat our children’s infections.”

Part of the concern is the over usage of antibiotics not only in human illness, but also in agriculture. Animals are given antibiotics in many cases just as a prevention. The issue is that the bacteria in them become resistant and then find their way to human populations.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, (CDC) for every 1000 people in the US who see a doctor, 842 are given antibiotics. Dr. Theoklis Zaoutis, professor of pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia states that, “About 30 percent of antibiotic use is either inappropriate or unnecessary in the U.S.”

The CDC highlights this growing issue on their website. “Antibiotic resistance is one of the world’s most pressing public health problems. Illnesses that were once easily treatable with antibiotics* are becoming more difficult to cure and more expensive to treat. Infections from common antibiotic-resistant food borne bacteria, such as Salmonella, can cause more severe health outcomes than infections with bacteria that are not resistant to antibiotics.”

The WHO ended their release on this issue with a stern warning that speaks to an overall re-thinking of how we use antibiotics. “While more R&D is vital, alone, it cannot solve the problem. To address resistance, there must also be better prevention of infections and appropriate use of existing antibiotics in humans and animals, as well as rational use of any new antibiotics that are developed in future.”

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson. Austin chiropractor located in north central Austin, TX.


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U.S. Doctors Continue Prescribing Unnecessary Drugs, Survey Says

Do Antibiotics Treat Viruses? What is a Superbug?

The headline above comes from a December 5, 2016, United Press International story reporting on the results of a survey of doctors. The survey, conducted by the American College of Physicians, asked 5000 of their members to identify two drug treatments frequently used by internists that were unlikely to provide high value care to patients.

U.S. Doctors Continue Prescribing Unnecessary Drugs, Survey Says-Austin_TX_Chiropractor_for_Chiropractic_Health_Natural_Spine_Back_BestIn spite of the fact that the doctors knew that the drug treatments they were prescribing were of no value or little value, 27% said that they administered antibiotics even though they knew the drugs would not be effective. The most common scenario described was for upper respiratory illnesses that are mostly caused by viruses. Viruses are not affected by antibiotics making the use of those drugs totally worthless in those situations.

Other scenarios revealed by the survey showed that 9% of the aggressive treatments for terminally ill patients were of “questionable value.” Additionally, 7% of medications for chronic pain were determined to be of little value according to the survey of doctors who gave out these drugs.

Dr. Amir Qaseem, vice president of clinical policy for the American College of Physicians (ACP) and chair of the ACP’s High Value Care Task Force, commented, “There is a lot of waste in our health care system, and we need to acknowledge that.”

The overuse of antibiotics has contributed to the increase of deadly superbug bacteria that are resistant to antibiotic treatments. The UPI article reports that according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States alone, more than 2 million people a year are infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Even worse is that at least 23,000 of these people die each year as a direct result of these untreatable infections.

The CDC estimated that half of all antibiotics given to patients are not necessary. This translates into approximately 47 million unnecessary prescriptions for antibiotics in the U.S. each year.

Dr. Qaseem tried to explain why some doctors are adding to this situation by saying, “If a patient shows up in a physician’s practice and they have an upper respiratory tract infection, it is most often viral and will resolve itself in a few days,” Qaseem said. “You tell the patient to go home, rest, and it will be OK, but generally the expectation of a patient is that you will do something more than that.”

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson. We are located in north central Austin, TX.


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Otitis Media Helped with Chiropractic

Are Antibiotics the Best Treatment for Ear Infections? Can Chiropractic Help Otitis Media?

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published a case study on July 18, 2016, documenting the improvement of otitis media and sleep problems in a baby girl through chiropractic care. Otitis media, more commonly known as ear infections, is any inflammation of the middle ear regardless if it is caused by an infection.

Otitis Media Helped with Chiropractic - Austin TX Pediatric Chiropractor for Ear Infection No Need for AntibioticsThe authors of the study begin by noting how common and trying re-occurring ear infections can be. “Frustration at reoccurring ear infections is one reason some parents are driven to seek ‘alternative’ treatments for their children. This frustration is well warranted, considering two out of three children will be medically diagnosed with otitis media in their first three years of life.”

Otitis media can affect any age group but is most prevalent in infants and children. It is estimated that by age four, 80% of children will have suffered a bout of otitis media. The rate of this problem has increased as the study reports that between 1975 and 1990, there was a 150% increase in the number of children in the United States who are diagnosed with otitis media. Common symptoms of otitis media include ear pain, difficulty sleeping, excessive crying, increased irritability, difficulty hearing or responding to sounds, loss of balance, fever, draining from ear, headaches, and loss of appetite.

In this case, a mother of a 2-year-old girl brought her daughter into the chiropractor. She was looking for help with her daughter’s re-occurring ear infections in the hopes of avoiding having tubes put into the baby’s ears, which had been recommended by her pediatrician. She was also looking for an alternative to the ongoing rounds of antibiotics her daughter had been given.

A chiropractic examination, including palpation, spinal heat readings and postural analysis were performed to determine the presence of subluxations that could be related to the baby girl’s problem. The presence of subluxation was determined, and care was begun in the form of specific adjustments appropriate for the age and size of the baby.

After one month of care, a re-assessment was performed which reported that the girl had been able to sleep through the night and had not had any ear infections since starting chiropractic. After about five months under chiropractic care, the study reports that the girl had not had any ear infections and had not needed any antibiotics since the beginning of care.

In their conclusion, the study authors describe how chiropractic can help in otitis media cases such as this. “Chiropractic exam found subluxations at multiple levels, which were addressed in the following weeks and months of care. Through removing these subluxations, the doctor of chiropractic removed the nerve interference and allowed the patient’s body to heal.” Based on the results of this and other studies the authors recommended “…chiropractic treatment is a better option for care of concurrent subluxation and otitis media than traditional allopathic care, which relies heavily on antibiotic treatment.”

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson. We are located in north central Austin, TX.


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Millions of Antibiotic Prescriptions Each Year are Unnecessary, Study Finds

Are Antibiotics Over-Prescribed? When Should I Take Antibiotics?

The above headline comes from a May 3, 2016, article reported by CBS News. This article and several others on this subject were based on a new study released on May 3, 2016, in the Journal of the American Medical Association, (JAMA).

Millions of Antibiotic Prescriptions Each Year are Unnecessary, Study Finds - Austin TX Chiropractor CelebrityThe title of the JAMA study was, Prevalence of Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescriptions Among US Ambulatory Care Visits, 2010-2011.  The study begins by stating the importance of the study saying, The National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria set a goal of reducing inappropriate outpatient antibiotic use by 50% by 2020, but the extent of inappropriate outpatient antibiotic use is unknown.

According to the study, approximately one-third of all antibiotic prescriptions are inappropriate. The problem is that heavy usage of antibiotics has resulted in more antibiotic resistant bacteria, commonly referred to as superbugs. Because of the rise in antibiotic resistance, and the increased strength of the bacteria, more deaths due to these types of infections have been occurring. Estimates are that each year antibiotic-resistant bacteria infect 2 million Americans of which about 23,000 die.

Lead researcher, Dr. Katherine Fleming-Dutra, stated in a HealthDay news article,  We were able to conclude that at least 30 percent of the antibiotics that are given in doctors’ offices, emergency departments and hospital-based clinics are unnecessary, meaning that no antibiotics were needed at all.

Fleming also noted that about half of the antibiotics given for acute respiratory infections were not needed. She stated,  Nobody should be giving antibiotics for the common cold, it gets better without antibiotics.

In a companion editorial in the same issue of JAMA, Drs. Tamma and Cosgrove stated, the statement ‘If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it,’ attributed to Lord Kelvin, is of particular relevance to the field of antibiotic stewardship. Whereas the plea for optimizing how antibiotics are used in the United States has been ongoing for more than 50 years, improvement has been slow.

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson.


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Superbugs Threaten Hospital Patients

Can Chiropractic Help Improve Your Immune System? What Controls Your Immune System… Your Nervous System?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a release on March 3, 2016, with the above headline. The release notes that antibiotic resistant bacteria, commonly called superbugs, are now causing 1 in 7 healthcare associated infections, (HAI).

Superbugs Threaten Hospital Patients - Austin TX Chiropractor best motor vehicle car accident collision for the injured“New data show that far too many patients are getting infected with dangerous, drug-resistant bacteria in healthcare settings,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “Doctors and healthcare facilities have the power to protect patients – no one should get sick while trying to get well.”

The release notes that HIAs are dangerous because they are resistant to antibiotics and very difficult to treat. The release states, “HAIs are commonly caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which may lead to sepsis or death.”

A Fox News story on the same issue noted that the CDC reported that on any given day as many as 1 in 25 patients have an infection they picked up while in the hospital. Estimates are that for some procedures, the infection rate is as high as 1 in 4 patients.

The CDC release noted three areas that need to be addressed to help combat HIAs. These are, ” 1) prevent infections related to surgery or placement of a catheter, 2) prevent spread of bacteria between patients, and 3) improve antibiotic use.”

The discussion of the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria has long centered around the overuse of antibiotics in medical care and food that has fostered the development of bacteria that are no longer treatable by these drugs.

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson.


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Chronic Ear Infections Resolved with Chiropractic According to Case Report

What is Otitis Media? Can Chiropractic Help Ear Infections?

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published a case study in their January 14, 2016, issue documenting the case of a young girl with otitis media being resolved with chiropractic care. Otitis media is the technical term for ear infections.

Chronic Ear Infections Resolved with Chiropractic According to Case Report - Pediatric Chiropractor Austin TX Ear Infections Kids Children BabyThe study estimates that approximately 40% of children suffer from otitis media (OM) before the age of five years. Commonly children who suffer with this problem have reoccurring episodes and are often prescribed antibiotics as medical treatment. The authors report that in an acute phase, OM is often associated with ear pain, fever, headaches, irritability, and listlessness. Otitis media is the most common infection for which antibiotics are prescribed for children in the United States, with medical costs being about 3 billion dollars a year.

In this case, a 4-year-old boy suffering from chronic earaches was taken to the chiropractor by his mother to see if chiropractic could help. The boy’s history showed that he had been suffering with otitis media since age three. In an effort to medically treat his problem, tubes had been inserted in his ears which fell out nine months later. After the failed medical care, the boy, who was scheduled to have a second ear tube surgery in less than one month, was brought to the chiropractor. The boy’s mother reported that her son would regularly pull on his ear, and she observed that his ear was red and had excessive wax buildup.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included palpation of the child’s spine, range of motion, as well as basic inspection and physical signs. From his examination, it was determined that the boy had subluxations in his upper neck area.

Specific chiropractic adjustments were given to address the boy’s subluxations. The boy was seen three times per week for the first two weeks of care, followed by a visit frequency of twice per week. Following the first adjustment, the boy’s mother reported that her son experienced relief for the entire day. She did notice fluid coming out of his ears as well as a runny nose. It was reported that he slept better that night and was less irritable.

After three visits, the mother reported that her son had improved enough that she decided to cancel her son’s second ear tube surgery. When the initial portion of the chiropractic care was completed, the boy’s parents decided to continue their son’s care on a wellness basis.

In their conclusion, the study authors offered, “This case report opens for the possibility that children with otitis media and failed medical care in the way of tympanostomy tubes may benefit from chiropractic care via chiropractic adjustment.”

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson.


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Growing Number of Parents are Turning to Chiropractors to Treat Their Kids

Do Chiropractors See Kids? How Does Chiropractic Care Help Children?

The headline above comes from a June 22, 2015, feature article in the Minnesota Star Tribune. The article looks at several children who have had their lives improved by going to a chiropractor. The article begins by saying, “Concerned about the frequent use of antibiotics, some parents are seeking chiropractic care for everything from stomachaches to runny noses.”

Growing Number of Parents are Turning to Chiropractors to Treat Their Kids - Austin TX ChiropracticThe discussion about children needing chiropractic is a polarizing one. Many people believe very strongly that chiropractic care is essential for young spines while others do not. Kimberly is the mother of Tobias, an active one-year-old boy featured in the article who is a new chiropractic patient. “We knew that as our children were growing that we would seek chiropractic care as they had growing pains and accidents,” she explains. Noting how active her son is, she added, “And Tobias, he’s a mover and a shaker.”

Tobias’s chiropractor, Dr. Anne, explained that for many babies, the only way they can communicate something is wrong to their parents is by crying. “For an infant, their only way to tell a parent they don’t feel good is by crying.” She points out that this may not be just the result of being hungry or tired or wet, but may well be the result of a health issue that stems from a spinal misalignment, known as a subluxation.

Dr. Anne also explained the uniqueness of the process of adjusting a baby or small child. “With a 2-year-old, you’ve got about 20 seconds to get it done because they’re either yelling at you or want to be done. It’s hard to describe to a young kid what they’re going to feel,” she said. “So I always have them near Mom and Dad so that they’re not afraid.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that in 2012, about 3.1 percent of children in the U.S. were seen by chiropractors. Dr. Elise Hewitt, president of the pediatrics council for the American Chiropractic Association added, “That’s a total of almost 2 million children in 2012 that received chiropractic and osteopathic care.”

In explaining the typical scenario of why a parent brings their child to see a chiropractor, Dr. Anne said, “So parents get frustrated. They’ve been at the pediatrician for two or three months and their kid has been on three or four antibiotics,” she said. “More often than not, it’s a structural thing that’s causing the ear infections. So they end up here.”

To explain her reasons for bringing her kids to the chiropractor, Kimberly stated, “I think we’ve always understood that there’s such rapid growth when a child is growing, and the birthing process — I don’t ever say traumatic, but it can be dramatic,” she said. “So it has always sat right with us to have someone who understands the vertebrae be able to take a look at little guys early on.”

If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson.


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