ANTIBIOTICS - WHAT ARE THEY?
Antibiotics are strong medicines that can stop some infections and save lives. The triumph of antibiotics over
disease-causing bacteria is one of modern medicine's greatest success stories. Since these drugs first became widely used
in the World War II era, they have saved countless lives and blunted serious complications of many feared diseases and
infections.
After more than 50 years of widespread use, however, many antibiotics don't pack the same punch they once did.
Antibiotics can cause more harm than good when they aren’t used the right way. You can protect yourself and your family
by knowing when you should use antibiotics and when you shouldn’t.
DO ANTIBIOTICS WORK AGAINST ALL INFECTIONS?
No. Antibiotics only work against infections caused by bacteria. They don’t work against any infections caused by
viruses. Viruses cause colds and most coughs and sore throats.
WHAT IS "BACTERIAL RESISTANCE"?
Usually antibiotics kill bacteria or stop them from growing. However, due to the widespread and often use of
antibiotics evolutionary changes have occurred in some bacteria that has resulted in the production of resistant strains
of bacteria to specific antibiotics so the antibiotics don’t work against them. Resistant bacteria develop faster when
antibiotics are used too often or are not used correctly.
Resistant bacteria sometimes can be treated with antibiotics to which the bacteria have not yet become resistant.
These medicines may have to be given intravenously (through a vein) in a hospital. A few kinds of resistant bacteria are
untreatable.
While antibiotic resistance benefits the microbes, it presents humans with two big problems: it makes it more difficult
to purge infections from the body; and it heightens the risk of acquiring infections in a hospital.
HOW DOES BACTERIAL RESISTANCE EFFECT US?
Nearly two million patients in the United States get an infection in the hospital each year
Of those patients, about 90,000 die each year as a result of their infection-up from 13,300 patient deaths in 1992
(approximately 7 fold increase)!
More than 70 percent of the bacteria that cause hospital-acquired infections are resistant to at least one of the
drugs most commonly used to treat them
Diseases such as tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, malaria, and childhood ear infections are now more difficult to treat than
they were decades ago due to antibiotic resistance
Persons infected with drug-resistant organisms are more likely to have longer hospital stays and require treatment
with second or third choice drugs that may be less effective, more toxic, and more expensive
In short, antimicrobial resistance is driving up health care costs, increasing the severity of disease, and increasing
the death rates from certain infections.
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP MYSELF AND MY FAMILY?
Don’t expect antibiotics to cure every illness. Don’t take antibiotics for colds or the flu. Often, the best thing you
can do is to let colds and the flu run their course. Sometimes this can take 2 weeks or more. Call your doctor if your
illness gets worse after 2 weeks.
PREVENTION IS THE BEST CURE
Strengthen your immune system so your body is not susceptible to frequent colds and flus - this is especially important
if you get sick often.
HOW DO I KNOW WHEN I NEED ANTIBIOTICS?
The answer depends on what is causing your infection. The following are some basic guidelines:
Colds and flu. Viruses cause these illnesses. They can’t be cured with antibiotics
Sore throat. Most sore throats are caused by viruses and don’t need antibiotics. However, strep throat is caused by
bacteria. A throat swab and a lab test are usually needed before your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic for strep
throat
Ear infections. There are several types of ear infections. Antibiotics are used for some, but not all, ear
infections
Sinus infections. Antibiotics are often used to treat sinus infections. A runny nose and yellow or green mucus do not
necessarily mean you need an antibiotic
SIDE EFFECTS OF ANTIBIOTICS
Antibiotics have side effects. One of the most common is antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) — a potentially serious
condition that affects up to 20 percent of people receiving antibiotic therapy
AAD occurs when antibiotics disturb the natural balance of "good" and "bad" bacteria in your intestinal tract, causing
harmful bacteria to proliferate far beyond their normal numbers. The result is often frequent, watery bowel movements
Most often, the diarrhoea is fairly mild and clears up shortly after you stop taking the antibiotic. But sometimes you
may develop colitis, an inflammation of your colon, or a more serious form of colitis called pseudomembranous colitis.
Both can cause abdominal pain, fever and bloody diarrhea. In cases of pseudomembranous colitis, these symptoms may become
life-threatening
OTHER SIDE EFFECTS
Feeling sick and being sick
DIAPER RASH - Contact diaper rash and fungal diaper rash in babies
Fungal infections of the mouth, digestive tract and vagina: ORAL THRUSH and VAGINAL YEAST INFECTIONS (yeast
proliferation in the body)
RASH ON THE BODY: Allergic rash includes hives, Pinpoint red or white bumps, lacy type of red rash
RARE SIDE EFFECTS
Formation of kidney stones with the sulphonamides
Abnormal blood clotting with some of the cephalosporins
Increased sensitivity to the sun with the tetracyclines
Blood disorders with trimethoprim
Deafness with erythromycin and the aminoglycosides
Rash, swelling of the face and tongue, and difficulty breathing due to penicillin allergy
PROBIOTICS
The digestive tract maintains a balance between healthy and potentially harmful micro-organisms. Healthy
micro-organisms, also called micro flora/probiotics , are residents of the digestive tract that have a protective role in
our bodies. In addition to its protective role, micro flora helps to synthesize important vitamins, nutrients and enzymes,
such as the lactase needed to digest lactose in milk and dairy products. Besides the digestive tract, micro flora reside
in other areas where mucous membranes are exposed to the environment, such as the skin, respiratory tract and
genital-urinary tract.
THERAPEUTIC USES
Probiotics can be used in situations where the intestinal micro flora balance has been disturbed and related digestive
tract dysfunction occurs. Besides improving digestion and preventing gas, bloating, and bad breath, probiotics are
beneficial in many other situations
Immune System - Bifidobacterium has been shown to enhance the function of the immune system. Natural cellular immune
functions are known to decline as we age. Research shows that supplementing Bifidobacterium Lacis enhances the production
of immune system cells known to be active against viral infections
After and with antibiotics: Probiotics in combination with and following antibiotic therapy can facilitate regrowth of
a healthy microbial population
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A PROBIOTIC SUPPLEMENT
The most common strains of probiotics are Lactobacillus acidophilus for the small intestine and Bifidobacterium
bifidum for the large intestine
FOS (fructo-oligosaccharides): Synthesized naturally from sucrose, it is not digested by the small intestine but is
fermented in the colon. A linear relationship has been found between the amount of FOS consumed and the count of
bifidobacteria in the intestine. Excess FOS could cause excess gas, abdominal cramps, and bloating, many probiotics have
only small amounts of FOS in the range of 200mg
Each capsule or dose should contain more than 1 billion viable bacteria
Opaque bottles: Bifidobacteria is anaerobic, meaning that it lives and grows in the absence of oxygen. One study found
that bifidobacteria could survive and multiply better in glass bottles than plastic containers, probably because oxygen
cannot permeate glass bottles easily. For this reason, also look for opaque containers
Look for products that have vitamin C (ascorbic acid), whey protein, or cysteine added. Vitamin C acts as an
oxygen-scavenging agent and can improve the survival and multiplication of bacteria such as Lactobacillus. Studies have
found that whey protein and the amino acid cysteine also improve the viability of bacteria
FERMENTED MILK / YOGHURT
Usually cultured with Lacto acidophilus bacteria. (From the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2000) Mechanically
fermented milk has shown to cause an increase in the human gut bacterial content.
Benefits include:
Increased short chain fatty acids
Increased bacterial activity in the large intestine
Improved immune defense system, intestinal transit, muscle mass and cardiovascular disease
SOY BASED PRODUCTS
All of the above benefits including the added benefit of isoflavones – genistein and daidzein found in soy, which has
a more beneficial cancer chemo protective effect.
HOMEOSTATIC SOIL BASED ORGANISMS
Based on the premise that microorganisms in the dirt influence the maturation of the immune system, based on the
research of David Strachan, an epidemiologist in 1989
Benefits include those mentioned above plus:
Successful intestinal colonization as they are impervious to stomach acid
Strengthens the immune system
Provides lactoferrin supplementation- an essential byproduct of metabolism, which is essential for retrieving iron
from foods
Has been clinically researched for the use various GI conditions
When selecting a probiotic, it is necessary to consider the intended use of the probiotic, its source, its site of
isolation and characteristics of the strain. It is wise to consult a health care provider or naturopathic doctor who will
evaluate the symptoms, identify exactly what species is causing your symptoms using scientific testing, evaluate your
options of natural treatments, and recommend the most appropriate probiotic supplement.
Please ask your doctor or naturopath before starting on any supplements. Its is better to first identify the cause
and then treat it with the right remedies, even though those mentioned above have minimal side effects.
The information on this handout is the property of SUSHMA SHAH N.D., and is not intended to treat, diagnose or cure
any disease. For any questions, or concerns, please contact me at 416 913 4325 (HEAL) or email me at
info@naturesintentionsnaturopathy.com
