Hospital Superbugs
Pomegranate - Super-foods to Fight Super Bugs
With the need for more antibiotics to cope with increasingly resilient strains of bacteria, research scientists are turning their attentions to more natural alternatives, but is this research fragmented, rather than providing a tool for all hospitals to use in their fight against ‘super bugs’, such as MRSA?
Antibiotics are not the answer to super bugs
MRSA began as a lowlier bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus (SA). This was treatable with the antibiotic, methicillin. However, some strains of SA became resilient to methicillin and other derivatives, giving rise to the much-publicised ‘super-bugs’ Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These bacteria seem to have found their way into almost every hospital in the country and have even caused fatalities. Yet, there have been no further antibiotics created to combat these infections. Professor Anthony Coates of the St. George’s hospital in London draws this into sharp perspective when he revealed that, “about 20 new classes of antibiotics were marketed between 1940 and 1969, yet only three have been marketed since. In all classes, resistance has arisen. Most antibiotics come from nature, so it is very valid to look at natural sources.”
Another reason to investigate the effects of natural products could be the lack of potential side effects that they have, when compared to synthetic antibiotics. A team of research scientists from the University of Kingston have discovered that Pomegranate rind, when combined with a quantity of vitamin C and particular metal salts, holds properties that could be very useful in the fight against MRSA. The immediate options would seem to be that this compound could be developed into an infection-fighting cream. Longer-term plans would aim to create a new antibiotic that MRSA has not become resilient to.
Natural alternatives?
While Professor Declan Naughton from the School of Life Sciences has declared the results of the three-year study as “a significant breakthrough and a striking example of the effectiveness of adding more components to create a more active product”, many are left wondering whether there should be a more cohesive approach from the Health Service as a whole. Staff at the Royal University Hospital in Bath have taken to using medical-grade Manuka honey and the sterilised larvae of the green-bottle fly to treat infections in wounds. Surrey is researching the benefits of other natural products and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust spent £940,000 on building, equipment and staffing costs - yet only 2.6% of the 18,697 patients screened tested positive for MRSA. Only 0.9% of the 13,500 elective patients screened at Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust tested positive, but it cost the Trust almost £300,000.
It seems that all hospitals have recognised and identified MRSA as a very real threat, but are responding to it individually, as opposed to as a unit. Without a central core dedicated to the eradication of MRSA, the NHS could find itself in a position where we are relying on the findings of other countries such as Holland, where a recent study has challenged the idea that MRSA is a community-transmitted bacterium. Instead, it suggests that the infection is passed on by elderly patients with continuing health problems and who visit hospitals on a regular basis. Whatever the cause, it seems that in the fight against the onslaught of the superbugs, the medical profession is turning back to natural alternatives as possible weapons in the battle against infection.
Back to Medical Negligence Articles
FREE GUIDE - 7 Questions You Must Ask Before Choosing Your Medical Negligence Solicitor
If you believe you have been the victim of an act of medical or clinical negligence you need our free guide which answers all of the questions that you need answers to before deciding to make a claim, including:
- What are the costs of making a claim for compensation
- The reasons you should or should not make a claim, including protecting other patients
- Whether using a solicitor or a claims company will make a difference to the success of your claim
- The questions you must ask to ensure you choose the right person to help you with your claim
Before you take any further action, take five minutes to read our free guide so that when you do pick up the telephone or fill in an online enquiry form, you know exactly the questions you need to ask to find the right medical negligence claim solicitor for you.
Share This Article With:
If you would like 1stClaims’ expert Medical Negligence Solicitors on your side please call us free on 0800 2888 693 or complete our Free Claim Enquiry form now and we will be in touch with you very soon.
Remember, all initial enquiries are completely free of charge and we will investigate all funding options for you.
We are here to help you from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday,
8.30am to 6pm on Saturday and 9am to 6pm on Sundays.
Claim Now
Start your FREE claim for compensation by using our online claim form.
Remember we charge no fees to you for our service and all initial enquiries with our solicitors are completely free of charge.
What Is Medical Negligence?
0800 2888 693 or;
Essential Medical Negligence Guide
To receive our free guide providing you with all the information you MUST know before making an enquiry about a medical negligence claim, please complete your details below:
Why Choose Us for Your Medical Claim?
- Expert medical negligence solicitors selected for you by our own solicitor with over 18 years claims experience
- Legal Aid Available
- Free initial advice always
- Private treatment available
- Our service is completely free for you
News / Articles
Videos - Click To View Our Medical Negligence Videos
Look For A Free Claim Enquiry Online - 06/02/2012
Medical Negligence Claims - Where To Go? - 02/02/2012
Medical Negligence Compensation Claims On The Increase? - 07/12/2011
Children Medical Negligence - 02/12/2011
IVF Medical Negligence Claims - 30/11/2011
UK Wide Coverage
We have expert solicitors across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland waiting to help
you now.
What Our Clients Say
“My reason for contacting you was to help me find a solicitor to deal with a medical negligence claim. My previous solicitor no longer does this kind of work. I can thoroughly recommend the services that 1st Claims offer for anybody who is seeking advice regarding medical negligence. The lady who took my details was very efficient and polite. Within hours I was phoned by a solicitor who you had recommended, and matters are now proceeding in a satisfactory way.
Before contacting you, I was apprehensive that I was not going to find anybody who would be able to help me in this specialised field. The benefits of your service are the fast response, followup and a good understanding of what is required.
I have complete confidence in recommending your excellent service. I am actually a retired doctor and can understand whether the people with whom I am dealing have a clear knowledge of what is required. Before I rang 1st Claims, i contacted a marketing agency and was told:-
1. That as my claim was so old, it was time barred.
2. they were unable to help as I had already been to another solicitor.
Both the reasons that I was given are completely wrong.
”
Kindest regards,
Dr E A Hopkins, LRCP MRCS
