Still About the Same...

The other day, Pam J asked why I would want an antibiotic if I did not think I had a bacterial infection.  I gave a brief response then, but I thought I would elaborate on some thoughts about it today:

• Today, I am about the same as I reported on Friday.  Still some jaw pain, still some tooth pain, still some ear pain and still a red ear canal AND fluid behind the eardrum (middle ear).  No worsening of the pain, but no improvement over Friday.  I am still eating with my bite splint.  It is keeping me from reaggravating the joint area.
• I DO think I have a bacterial infection.  The clinician didn’t think so….with no testing….but I have a red ear that has considerable fluid behind the eardrum.  
• Fluid behind the eardrum stems from poor drainage and is a great ration for bacteria to thrive and grow.  Viruses infect cells….. they generally do not just grow eun fluid in the middle ear.  
• The reason I am so aggravated at the "Antibiotic Nazi" is that she just PROCLAIMED it was likely a virus... with no real testing or diagnosis what-so-ever.  She has NO actual knowledge of whether it is viral or bacterial.  She is just touting "party line" b*llsh*t about not prescribing antibiotics due to "antibiotic resistance".  
• I still think MUCH of the "antibiotic resistance" issue is WAY OFF THE MARK.  I DO FIRMLY BELIEVE that antibiotic resistance IS a crucial, critical, and important issue.  But, I DO NOT BELIEVE that proper use of medical antibiotics would have much IF ANYTHING to do with the worries about anti-biotic resistance.  
• Let us say.... IF I had a bacterial infection and TOOK THE MEDICINE AS PRESCRIBED (until it was finished), then the potential for the antibiotic to give me relief and fix what ails me is THE PURPOSE of the antibiotic, and IF I TAKE it fully as prescribed, the risk of any antibiotic resistance would be VERY LOW. 
• Let us say..... IF I had a VIRAL infection..... viral infections should clear relatively quickly.  But, I am in week THREE NOW.  But, more to the point....  if I did NOT have a bacterial infection, then there WOULD NOT BE THE BACTERIA there to "become resistant to" and if I took the full regime of the medicine, the AGAIN, would be virtually NO ability to cause antibiotic resistance...... if it were VIRAL!
• Globally, livestock consume ~70+% of all antibiotics produced (well over 100,000 tons per year).
• LIVESTOCK CONSUME these antibiotics to GAIN WEIGHT FASTER to get the animals to market FASTER.
• LIVESTOCK are given these antibiotics at SUB-CLINICAL LEVELS...... in other words.... LOW DOSE LEVELS..... the VERY PROBLEM that PROMOTES the development of anti-biotic resistance.  Normal clinical doses for a normal clinical time are MUCH LESS LIKELY (EXTREMELY UNLIKELY) to induce bacterial resistance.  
• Swine and poultry generally consume the largest share relative to animal biomass, followed by cattle and sheep. 
• Usage is highest in Asia, followed by the Americas, Africa, and Europe. 
• To top it off now..... my wife came down with the exact same symptoms as me during the weekend (except no jaw pain as she does not have TMJ).... and she just called a few moments ago..... she saw a different clinician.... AND SHE WAS PRESCRIBED AN ANTIBIOTIC...... and will have taken her first dose before I get home today. 

PipeTobacco