Antibiotics

[LSkylizard]

...Um, what about "naturally occurring" penicillin...? Moldy bread looks terrible, smells terrible, and probably tastes terrible, but, does it have any efficacy as an anti-biotic, in it's unrefined form?...

Interesting idea. Just a couple points:

...the product of the soil mold Penicillium crippled many types of disease-causing bacteria. But just four years after drug companies began mass-producing penicillin in 1943, microbes began appearing that could resist it...

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blpenicillin.htm

1. I lack the knowledge to even hunt for wild mushrooms when they are in season. I would be leery about trying to identify different types of fungus in different forms (i.e. mold) for medical care. Plain penicillin has specific uses and I would not just start scarfing moldy bread in case it might save me....I might get poisoned and die from that quicker then it would take the rescue/SAR team to find me.
2. You are trying to achieve a dose. I don't know how much moldy bread of the right type of mold you would have to eat to achieve a required therapeutic dose. I am not sure the right type of mold will grow on bread.
3. I don't know the bio-availabilty of this "oral" form of treatment...?how much will absorb? ?Will it absorb or just bath your gut causing other problems?

I have some basic training in Fungi/molds/yeast etc... as part of my core training in microbiology and we touch on it in med-school. Most of my microbiology is in infectious disease caused by bacteria, some parasites, and those fungi that infect wounds and lungs. I know fungi are fairly complex and closer to human cells then bacteria. Identifying them can be dangerous even in the lab.

 

[geothorn]

Interesting idea. Just a couple points:

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blpenicillin.htm

1. I lack the knowledge to even hunt for wild mushrooms when they are in season. I would be leery about trying to identify different types of fungus in different forms (i.e. mold) for medical care. Plain penicillin has specific uses and I would not just start scarfing moldy bread in case it might save me....I might get poisoned and die from that quicker then it would take the rescue/SAR team to find me.
2. You are trying to achieve a dose. I don't know how much moldy bread of the right type of mold you would have to eat to achieve a required therapeutic dose.
3. I don't know the bio-availabilty of this "oral" form of treatment...?how much will absorb?

I have some basic training in Fungi/molds/yeast etc... as part of my core training in microbiology and we touch on it in med-school. Most of my microbiology is in infectious disease caused by bacteria, some parasites, and those fungi that infect wounds and lungs. I know fungi are fairly complex and closer to human cells then bacteria. Identifying them can be dangerous even in the lab.

Thank you, for potentially saving my life!

I guess that I'll try to wait until Death is knocking on the door before I'll eat moldy bread as an anti-biotic.

GeoThorn

 

[dartanyon]

Wow I've really enjoyed following this thread, thanks!!

It sure is sad to see condescending sarcastic comments tho.

I understand that we choose to believe and retain whatever we want. I sure do appreciate input from those that have been trained and always try to keep an open mind for a different approach.

A burst appendix .... who wants to have a go at that?

 

[geothorn]

Maybe that should be in a Survival Surgery thread...?

Unfortunately, with a burst appendix, I think that hospitalization, as immediately as possible, is the only curative treatment. Aside from that, I guess, keep them relaxed and laying down, so as to slow the pumping of the poison of the burst appendix throughout their system...?

Diagnosing it would be difficult, too....

Peritonitis would probably be the next "symptom."

Disclaimer: I'm not a trained medical practitioner...you should wait for one of them to chime in.

GeoThorn

 

[mr_calico]

Wow i got a lot more information about this stuff than i ever thought i would.:thumbup:

time to start looking more into other topical antiboitics/antiseptics now as i think these would be a lot safer in the hands of a layman such as me. And how they compare to the iodine i carry among other things

Although like rainmaker says when your on deaths doorstep id take most any pill that gave me some hope of survival over being stuck waiting to die, so im not giving this idea up completely.

Thanks guys...

p.s. yes skammer i dont just own the pocket guide.......

 

[beezaur]

For a burst appendix I would want my ham radio.

You need evacuation for that stuff.

Scott

 

[Blammo]

That is an EXTREMELY broad & dangerous generalization to make! It is a very commonly prescribed antibiotic but definately NOT "the best antibiotic for abrasions or minor wounds". All wounds and often more important...patients are different. You might get away with using it but maybe not. Further, most "abrasions or minor wounds" should not be treated with antibiotics in the first place unless there is something else more serious going on with the patient.

I concur... My statement was too broad but I answered a specific question.
He said " antibiotics".. NOT " What would you do ?"
I answered the question with the antibiotic that I would personally carry...nothing more..
Most wounds NEVER require an antibiotic...although.. If you roll into any emergency room with an apparent case of cellulitis, or perhaps a bad case of road rash..or blackberry thorns.. This is usually what they would prescribe...right off.
Hellfire.. a little betadine works wonders for nearly anything..UNLESS you are kinfolk to Johnny Rambone his bad self...

 

[geothorn]

Bring a few film cans along? One each of Listerine <registered trademark, blah, blah>, hydrogen peroxide, and isopropyl alcohol (maybe Jim Beam <registered trademark, blah, blah> alcohol...), for cleaning/debriding wounds...? A tube of NeoSporin <registered trademark, blah, blah>, but, use the whole tube, to make certain to kill all of the infection?

For cleaning your own hands, maybe have a 2-ounce bottle of Purel <registered trademark, blah, blah> tucked-away somewhere...?

One rule is that if you're running a fever, chances are good that your body is fighting an infection....

GeoThorn