posted on Apr, 4 2008 @ 05:17 AM
The reason for the speculation is the method of reproduction of bacteria (asexual) and the methods used to pass genetic material and hence traits from
one set of bugs to another.
So called plasmid mediated ( plasmid is a small DNA containing sack, mediated meaning controlled) resistance is the problem. All it takes is for the
bugs that have plasmids and use them, to be in contact with others that have them and use them and if one is the superbug then bingo the super bug can
pass the "trait" of superbugness to other non super bugs.
There are quite a few experiments you can do at home to demonstrate this and they are very easily reproducible. The Harvard guy was being
disingenuous to say he was surprised...Like hell he was ...LOL
The thing is, when you remove the stress (antibiotics) from a system the ability to be resistant can be removed from the superbugs just as easily. The
super bug is no longer the only survivor (no antibiotics to eat ) and they die ...as they probably cannot eat normal bug food as well as the non super
bugs.
All this is well known and has been for decades. That's why I say the guy was disingenuous. Hey anything for a headline right???
Big Pharma companies when they could be bothered to do antibiotics research used, guess what, SOIL and oceanic sludge etc, samples to screen for new
antibiotic producing species. Where there is the stress there WILL be resistance, why this guy said he was surprised is a mystery to me. So in the
interests of denying ignorance, this is no big deal and don't fret over it.
I can tell you some other freaky stuff if you'd like and then say hey we were so surprised. Like where is the dirtiest (potentially nasty bugs living
in human waste) place in the bathroom?
Not the toilet, not the door to the stall, not the floor, not the sink bowl.......Yes of course you guessed it the cold tap. First thing you touch
(tap) wash hands, last thing you touch (tap) errrmm OOOopssss.
All this fascinating stuff is why I decided to become a Microbiologist almost 25 years ago now.
How many layers of average or even premium soft toilet tissue does it take before there is no bottom to hands bug transfer (nasty to think about I
know)
From my own experiments, over 25 yrs ago now (not involving bottoms or human waste) using petri dishes and easily killed bugs (E coli) it was on
average between 10 to 12 sheets. How many of us use that many...??
Elbow taps are such a good idea but not currently fashionable in the home.
Hope that helps