Antibiotics Prove Powerless as Super-Germs Spread

[xchrom]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,811560,00.html

The pathogens thrive in warm, moist environments. They feel comfortable in people's armpits, in the genital area and in the nasal mucous membranes. Their hunting grounds are in the locker rooms of schools and universities, as well as in the communal showers of prisons and health clubs.

The bacteria are transmitted via the skin, through towels, clothing or direct body contact. All it takes is a small abrasion to provide them with access to a victim's bloodstream. Festering pustules develop at the infection site, at which point the pathogens are also capable of corroding the lungs. If doctors wait too long, patients can die very quickly.

This is precisely what happened to Ashton Bonds, a 17-year-old student at Staunton River High School in Bedford County, in the US state of Virginia. Ashton spent a week fighting for his life -- and lost. This is probably what also happened to Omar Rivera, a 12-year-old in New York, who doctors sent home because they thought he was exhibiting allergy symptoms. He died that same night.

The same thing almost happened at a high school in the town of Belen, New Mexico. Less than two weeks ago, a cheerleader at the school was hospitalized after complaining about an abscess. Twelve other female students had been afflicted with suspicious rashes. All the students tested positive for a bacterium that the US media has dubbed the "superbug."

[bemildred]

1. Gee, who could have predicted this?

[tabatha]

2. Try Grape Seed Extract.

Anything can be killed if its food source disrupted, or its cell structure is compromised.

Antibiotic resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus were tested with grape seed and grape skin extracts, according to research published in the 2010 "Journal of Toxicological Science." The grape extracts effectively killed all strains of the bacteria at concentrations of 3 mg/ml, by disrupting bacterial cell walls. The researchers concluded that the degree of effectiveness of this commonly available substance is promising for management of methicilin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MSRA.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/170597-grapeseed-extract-health-benefits/#ixzz1kgs8SJXY

[rexcat]

3. There appears to be one little problem...

most antibiotics are measured in micrograms or nanograms/mL in blood samples. At 3 mg/mL one would have to consume a hell of a lot of grape seed extract, probably to the point of it being toxic to the individual! Is the 3 mg/mL in-vivo or in-vitro?
On edit - what would the blood levels need to be to be bactericidal? I did not see any clear indication of the blood levels at the website you listed. Just a generic 3 mg/mL which is meaningless without context.

The site you list does not appear to be a credible scientific site.

[tabatha]

4. a few sources

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120127140939.htm

http://www.physorg.com/news149924025.html

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/grape-seed-000254.htm

http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/gdgrapes.htm

There are plenty of articles.

[rexcat]

6. There seems to be a lot of in-vitro work...

with at least one animal model. I have been working in clinical research (mostly cancer research) for over 20 years and most cure alls don’t make the grade. I have worked on many "this is the greatest drug since aspirin" and most have failed miserably. Even if gets to market for some indication problems are usually found after market approval. One of the flaws with clinical reserach is "n" is always to small during the trials but when it gets approved and a large amount of people start using it is when things usually get interesting and usually not in a good way. Since it is too early I won't get my hopes up that this will be the next blockbuster but it looks, from the early work, that it might have some potential.

[bemildred]

5. Three grams per liter does seem like a lot.

But for surface use it's quite modest, 1/10 of a percent, and one could do infusions locally, etc.