New Wave of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria 404
reporter writes "New strains of 'Gram-negative' bacteria have become resistant to all safe antibiotics. Though methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the best-known antibiotic-resistant germ, the new class of resistant bacteria could be more dangerous still. 'The bacteria, classified as Gram-negative because of their reaction to the so-called Gram stain test, can cause severe pneumonia and infections of the urinary tract, bloodstream, and other parts of the body. Their cell structure makes them more difficult to attack with antibiotics than Gram-positive organisms like MRSA.' The only antibiotics — colistin and polymyxin B — that still have efficacy against Gram-negative bacteria produce dangerous side effects: kidney damage and nerve damage. Patients who are infected with Gram-negative bacteria must make the unsavory choice between life with kidney damage or death with intact kidneys. Recently, some new strains of Gram-negative bacteria have shown resistance against even colistin and polymyxin B. Infection with these new strains typically means death for the patient."
A race against evolution (Score:2, Funny)
If science and technology don't win the race against evolution who will be around to crown the winner?
The bugs?
Death with intact kidneys (Score:4, Funny)
I'd really be pissed if that happened to me.
Re:Thanks (Score:4, Funny)
Wow. Never heard of that one. I guess I'll just have to hide in the bathroom to wash my hands.
As a recovering germaphobe (Score:1, Funny)
As a recovering germaphobe, let me just say one thing:
Great.
It took me years to feel comfortable sharing food with a friend. Not to mention the ritual hand-washing, the avoiding of intimate contact with other people, etc... Clearly I was once on the right track in avoiding you disease carrying bastards :( .
Maybe in another three or four years I can feel comfortable enough to consider kissing another person. Or maybe I should just keep away from that damn, dirty world out there.
PS: Fuck you, webserver. Captcha = mating? What a jerk.
Re:Taking Kidneys offline (Score:1, Funny)
Since many law makers seem to be able to temporarily detach their brains during the course of their work I don't see how kidneys could be much harder to handle.
Re:Death with intact kidneys (Score:4, Funny)
Just long enough to go well with some Fava Beans and a glass of Chianti... or is that liver?
Re:Taking Kidneys offline (Score:1, Funny)
Simple fix: boot up the kidneys off a Knoppix CD, and then restore the kidney's registry from a known-good backup.
Re:Taking Kidneys offline (Score:5, Funny)
Congratulations, you just wrote the next episode of House.
Re:Taking Kidneys offline (Score:5, Funny)
I am a med student studying on renal physiology (test on friday...)
Let me know if you pass, then I'll mod you up.
Re:Life lesson (Score:2, Funny)
Do you really want to know the answer? (Score:3, Funny)
Story A - Every pharm company wanting to make a buck has pushed antibiotics into every nook and cranny, eventually creating strains of resistant bacteria.
Story B - An secret organization, funded by __________ has developed resistant strains to maintain and control ___________, and in some cases even __________.
Nope, I really don't want to know the real story.
Re:Idea (Score:5, Funny)