Bacterial Infections

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Bacterial Infections

 

Bacterial infections are caused by the presence and

growth of microorganisms that damage host tissue. The

extent of infection is generally determined by how

many organisms are present and the toxins they

release. Worldwide, bacterial infections are

responsible for more deaths than any other cause.

Symptoms can include inflammation and swelling, pain,

heat, redness, and loss of function. The most

important risk factors are burns, severe trauma, low

white blood cell counts, patients on immunotherapy

treatment, and anyone with malnutrition or vitamin

deficiency.

 

Bacteria are generally spread from an already infected

person to the newly infected person. The most common

invasion routes are inhalation of airborne bacteria,

ingestion into the stomach from dirty hands or

utensils, or through contaminated food or water,

direct contact with an infected area of another

person's body, contaminated blood, or by insect bite.

 

The first of the body's three primary lines of defense

includes naturally occurring chemicals such as the

lysozymes found in tears, gastric acid of the stomach,

pancreatic enzymes of the bowel, and fatty acids in

the skin. The body's immune response becomes involved

only if the infective organism manages to invade the

body. Nonspecific immune response--the body's second

line of defense--consists primarily of inflammation,

whereas specific immune response--the third line of

defense--relies on the activation of lymphocytes,

which send T- and B-cells to try to recognize the

specific type of organism involved. T-cells marshal

cytotoxic cells, which are sent to destroy the

organism, and B-cells produce the

antibodies--immunoglobulins--that can destroy specific

types of bacteria (for more information about

preventing infections in general, please refer to the

Immune Enhancement protocol).

 

Acute bacterial infections require immediate

conventional medical care. If FDA-approved antibiotics

fail to work, European antibiotics, which are several

years more advanced than American antibiotics, may be

effective.

 

Limitations of Modern Antibiotics

 

When antibiotics were discovered in the 1940s, they

were incredibly effective in the treatment of many

bacterial infections. Over time many antibiotics have

lost their effectiveness against certain types of

bacteria because resistant strains have developed,

mostly through the expression of " resistance genes. "

In 1998 a potentially deadly bacterium, Staphylococcus

aureus ( " staph " ), which causes widespread nosocomial

(infections contracted in a hospital or clinic)

infections, failed to respond to the most potent

antibiotic, vancomycin. The most troubling aspect was

that this failure occurred in three patients in widely

separated geographic areas.

 

There are several ways in which bacteria become

resistant to antibiotic therapy. One way is that some

bacteria have now developed " efflux " pumps. When the

bacterium recognizes invasion by an antibiotic, the

efflux pump simply pumps the antibiotic out of its

cells. Resistance genes code for more than pumps,

however. Some lead to the manufacture of enzymes that

degrade or chemically alter (and therefore inactivate)

the antibiotic. Where do these resistance genes come

from? Usually, bacteria get them from other bacteria.

In some cases they pick up a gene containing plasmid

from a " donor " cell. Also, viruses have been shown to

extract a resistance gene from one bacterium and

inject it into a different one. Furthermore, some

bacteria " scavenge " DNA from dead cells around them,

and occasionally, scavenged genes are incorporated in

a stable manner into the recipient cell's chromosome

or into a plasmid and become part of the recipient

bacterium. A few resistance genes develop through

random mutations in the bacterium's DNA.

 

Research shows great promise for a novel concept: the

introduction of susceptible strains of bacteria

following treatment by antibiotics. The idea is for

the susceptible strain to colonize the resistant

strain. The resulting colony is then antibiotic

sensitive.

 

The Last Line of Antibiotic Defense

As the problems of antibiotic resistance become ever

more global, scientists see an increasing role for

aminoglycosides in clinical practice. Aminoglycosides

are chemical compounds that are present in a variety

of antibiotics. Some are derived naturally from

microorganisms, while others are synthesized. Their

broad antimicrobial spectrum and ability to act

synergistically with other drugs make them very useful

in treating serious nosocomial (hospital-induced)

infections.

 

Aminoglycosides are given for serious Gram-negative

bacilli infections, such as Mycobacterium avium,

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,

and enterococcal endocarditis. Aminoglycosides exhibit

a significant postantibiotic effect for up to 8 hours

after antimicrobial action falls to zero, making them

superior to other classes of antibiotics. Common side

effects may include a loss of hearing, clumsiness,

dizziness, increased or decreased urination, increased

thirst, loss of appetite, and nausea or vomiting. Some

of these effects may last several weeks after the last

dose. The following medications compose the

aminoglycoside family: streptomycin, amikacin,

gentamicin, kanamycin, netilmicin, and tobramycin.

Aminoglycosides are administered under physician

supervision by means of inhalation solution,

irrigation solution, or injection.

 

Enterococci are bacteria found in the feces of most

humans and some animals. In healthy people, two

strains of enterococci, Enterococcus faecalis and

Enterococcus faecium, may cause urinary tract

infections or wound infections that can be cured by

tetracycline or penicillin. In severely ill patients

in a hospital setting, these same two strains may

cause life-threatening conditions such as bacteremia

(infection of the blood stream), endocarditis

(infection of the heart valves), and meningitis

(infection of brain fluid).

 

Until the mid-1980s, all enterococcal bacteria were

effectively killed by vancomycin (Vancocin), an

antibiotic administered by bolus injection that was

considered the last line of defense against the most

life-threatening bacterial infections. However, since

then, several strains of enterococci that are

vancomycin-resistant have appeared in hospitals all

over the world. The problem is so serious that in the

United States alone over 14,000 people die each year

from antibiotic-resistant bacteria picked up in the

hospital.

 

S. aureus is another potentially lethal bacterium

found in hospitals. Staphylococcus sp. were at one

time responsive to treatment with methicillin. Now,

almost all strains of Staphylococcus are resistant to

methicillin and are becoming increasingly resistant to

vancomycin as well. Hospitals are struggling to

improve hygiene and take more aggressive action to

contain contaminated areas, with only limited success.

Both staphylococcal and enterococcal strains of

bacteria resistant to the most potent antibiotics have

been found in otherwise healthy people outside the

hospital setting.

 

To combat the problem, pharmaceutical companies

continue to develop new and stronger antibiotics as

the last line of defense. Currently only one,

Synercid, approved for use by the FDA in 1999, has

proven safe, with limited effectiveness, for treatment

of staphylococcal and enterococcal infections.

Synercid is administered intravenously as a drug of

last resort.

 

Natural Alternatives

 

Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin is a subfraction of whey with

well-documented antiviral, antimicrobial, anticancer,

and immune modulating/enhancing effects. Whey is a

complex protein made up of many smaller protein

subfractions (peptides). Many of these subfractions

are found only in very minute amounts in cows' milk,

normally at less than 1%. For example, lactoferrin

makes up only 0.5-1% or less of whey protein derived

from cows' milk. Mothers' milk, on the other hand,

will contain up to 15% lactoferrin.

 

Lactoferrin is found throughout the human body and

occurs in all secretions that bathe mucous membranes,

such as saliva, tears, bronchial and nasal secretions,

hepatic bile, and pancreatic fluids, and is an

essential factor in the immune response (Nikolaev et

al. 1985). Lactoferrin is concentrated in oral

cavities where it will come in direct contact with

pathogens (e.g., viruses, bacteria, etc.) and kill or

greatly suppress these pathogens through a variety of

different mechanisms. In fact, there are specific

receptors for lactoferrin found on many key immune

cells, such as lymphocytes, monocytes, and macrophages

(Yamada et al. 1987). Lactoferrin is known to be

directly involved in the upregulation of natural

killer (NK) cell activity. One study with baby pigs

found that only 17% of the pigs died when fed

lactoferrin and injected with a toxin--Escherichia

coli--as opposed to 74% of the pigs that died without

the lactoferrin (Lee et al. 1998).

 

Lactoferrin's best-known role is as an iron-binding

protein. It's referred to as hololactoferrin in its

iron-bound form and apolactoferrin in its

iron-depleted form. Studies have found that it is the

apolactoferrin form that has the most powerful effects

as an antimicrobial agent (Tomita et al. 1994).

 

Lactoferrin is a powerful antimicrobial able to

inhibit a wide range of pathogenic bacteria and other

microbes. The mechanism appears to lie with

lactoferrin's ability to bind iron because it is known

to have an extremely high affinity for this metal.

Many pathogenic bacteria need a supply of free iron to

multiply and in the presence of lactoferrin are

strongly inhibited or killed. One study added

lactoferrin to the drinking water of mice and

subjected them to the toxic microbe called S. aureus.

The study found that in the mice getting the

lactoferrin as 2% of their caloric intake, kidney

infections were reduced by 40-60% and bacterial counts

were reduced five- to twelvefold. Bhimani et al.

(1999) concluded, " The results suggest a potential for

the use of lactoferrin as natural antibacterial

proteins for preventing bacterial infections. "

 

Another study looked at lactoferrin as a " natural

antibiotic " and found that lactoferrin both in vitro

and in vivo strongly inhibited the toxic bacteria

Helicobacter pylori. Researchers stated, " It is

concluded that bovine (cow's) lactoferrin has

significant antimicrobial activity against

Helicobacter species in vitro and in vivo " (Dial et

al. 1998).

 

When fed to adult animals and human infants,

lactoferrin showed a dramatic increase in good

microflora--such as Bifidobacterium bifidum

(Bifidus)--and a decrease in bad bacteria, such as E.

coli, Streptococcus sp., Clostridium sp., and others.

The result was desirable intestinal flora, which is

known to be essential for optimal health, immunity,

and resistance to disease. An extensive review that

examined the role of lactoferrin in inflammation and

the health of the intestinal tract stated, " The

possibility that lactoferrin limits the

autodestructive inflammatory response presents a new

alternative for the future management of systemic

inflammation " (Kruzel et al. 1998). Some research also

suggests that lactoferrin is able to stimulate

intestinal cell growth and may lead to better

digestive functions, in addition to its ability to

enhance the growth of " good " microflora in the

intestine. There is little doubt that in addition to

its immunomodulating effects, this natural peptide

derived from whey has powerful probiotic properties.

 

Interestingly, some studies have found lactoferrin

from cows to be more effective than lactoferrin from

humans for antibacterial properties (Vorland et al.

1998) (although it is well established that human

mother's milk confers a great deal of protection to

the newborn due to many factors, including a high

lactoferrin content). Studies have found lactoferrin

to inhibit a wide range of Gram-positive and

Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and even certain

intestinal parasites. Cholera, E. coli, Shigella

flexneri, Staphylococcus epidermidis, P. aeruginosa,

Candida albicans, and others have all been found to be

strongly or partially inhibited in the presence of

lactoferrin (Percival 1997; Kuwata et al. 1998;

Haversen et al. 2000). (It should be noted that not

every microbe that is pathogenic to humans is

suppressed by lactoferrin.)

 

Maybe most promising and interesting, there is

research that points to lactoferrin being able to

improve the efficiency of antibiotic treatments in the

fight against pathogenic microbes.

 

Oregano Oil

Oil of oregano is a powerful antiseptic and considered

one of the most potent antibacterials of all the

essential oils (Marino et al. 2001). Carvacrol and

thymol, the two active ingredients in oregano, are

phenols--agents that kill microscopic bacteria.

Oregano oil has been used for centuries in Far Eastern

and Middle Eastern cultures to treat respiratory

infections, chronic inflammation, urinary tract

infections, dysentery, jaundice, and even to increase

sexual excitability. Medicinal oregano grows wild in

mountainous areas of Greece and Turkey and is rich in

minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron,

potassium, copper, boron, and manganese, which adds to

its therapeutic value. Oregano oil has become popular

in recent years as an alternative to prescription

antibiotics.

 

Grapefruit Seed Extract

Grapefruit seed extract is derived from the

bioflavonoids found in the seed and pulp. Its

antigermicide action has shown a growth-inhibiting

effect on bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses in

several in vitro studies. The effectiveness of

grapefruit seeds was discovered accidentally by a

doctor who noticed that the seeds did not decompose in

his compost pile. Further examination revealed that

the grapefruit seeds killed any microorganism that

tried to decompose it. Laboratory studies have shown

it to be effective in inhibiting bacteria such as S.

aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and M. tuberculosis.

Grapefruit seed extract has been formulated by a

number of manufacturers for various uses, including an

internal bactericide, water disinfectant, skin

cleanser, and first-aid spray. Grapefruit seed extract

is also a treatment for house pets and livestock that

may be susceptible to bacterial infections from a

variety of sources.

 

Sarsaparilla Root

Sarsaparilla root (Smilax officinalis) attacks and

neutralizes microbial substances in the bloodstream

through its antibiotic activity. By acting as a

diuretic and diaphoretic (promotes perspiration),

sarsaparilla encourages excretion of toxins and waste

materials and acts as an antidote for various poisons.

Heavy metallic contaminants in the blood can be

extracted from the system with the judicious use of

sarsaparilla. Sarsaparilla exerts strong power over

fibers and tissues of the nervous system, which is an

added benefit of its use.

 

Alkylglycerols

Alkylglycerols (AKGs) are a family of compounds that

have been found to play a crucial role in the

production and stimulation of white blood cells. They

occur in freshwater fish and in cow, sheep, and

mother's milk. AKGs help give nursing mammals,

including breast-fed babies, protection against

infection until their own immune systems can develop

fully. Alkylglycerols are thought to act as immune

boosters against infectious diseases. No side effects

have been seen in patients taking 100 mg 3 times a

day. Shark liver oil capsules containing a minimum of

200 mg of alkylglycerols a capsule, at a dose of 5

capsules a day, can have a direct antibiotic effect.

 

Caution: Do not take shark liver oil for more than 30

days, because it may cause overproduction of blood

platelets.

 

Enzymes

Bromelain, a proteolytic digestive enzyme, can

potentiate--augment or strengthen--the effects of

conventional antibiotics, making them more effective

in killing bacteria (Chandler et al. 1998).

(Proteolytic substances contribute to the hydrolysis

of proteins or peptides and help form simpler, soluble

products.) Bromelain should be taken with meals. The

suggested dose is 2000 mg a day of a highly

concentrated bromelain.

 

Amino Acids

Arginine, a crystalline basic amino acid derived from

guanidine, can stimulate antibacterial components of

the immune system when taken in doses ranging from

6-20 grams a day. Arginine promotes the synthesis of

nitric oxide that is believed to help protect against

bacterial infections. The role of nitric oxide was

studied in host defense against Klebsiella pneumoniae

infection of the lung. The results suggested that

nitric oxide plays a critical role in antibacterial

host defense against K. pneumoniae, in part by

regulating macrophage phagocytic and microbicidal

activity (Wang et al. 1999).

 

Fruit Juice

Cranberry juice has proven to be an effective non-drug

therapy against urinary tract infections (Fleet 1994;

Kontiokari et al. 2001). The active ingredients of the

juice keep bacteria from attaching to the walls of the

bladder and urinary tract. Research concludes that

cranberry juice also helps to prevent the formation of

dental plaque that can eventually lead to tooth decay

(Weiss et al. 1998). Because the recommended daily

intake of this juice is so great, a dietary supplement

has been developed called Cran-Max that provides the

equivalent of sixteen 8-oz glasses of cranberry juice

in just 1 capsule. One capsule a day provides the

equivalent of the recommended amount of cranberry

juice for proven results in fighting urinary tract

infections.

 

Honey and Bee Propolis

Before the discovery of antibiotics, honey was known

to have antibacterial properties. Research has

confirmed those earlier findings (Tosi et al. 1996).

In addition, electron microscope studies show that bee

propolis has a potent antibacterial effect by

preventing cell division and inhibiting protein

synthesis (Takaisi-Kikuni et al. 1994).

 

Caution: Bee products should not be administered to

children under the age of three.

 

Trace Elements

Zinc has been found to potentiate antiseptic agents

(Zeelie et al. 1998). A South African study concluded

that zinc is also critical in the maintenance of a

healthy immune system.

 

Other Herbal Antimicrobials

Researchers around the world are taking another look

at folk medicine, herbal remedies, and other

alternatives to pharmacological drugs. Research has

confirmed the antibacteriological value of herbal

extracts from many parts of the world. Examples of

useful herbal remedies abound. Goldenseal may be an

effective natural antibiotic (Scazzocchio et al.

2001). Raw garlic has potent antibacterial effects

(Kumar et al. 1998). Kyolic, an aged garlic product,

does not kill bacteria directly, but does boost immune

function, enabling the body to fight off some chronic

bacterial infections.

 

Restoring Intestinal Flora

Antibiotics often destroy friendly bacteria in the

intestinal tract that are needed to digest food and

prohibit the growth of fungal infections and

pathogenic bacteria. Fortunately, these beneficial

bacteria can be restored by supplementing with a

product such as Life Flora that helps to recolonize

the natural floral balance that antibiotics can

destroy.

 

Oxygenation Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygenation helps the body heal from

conditions that have low oxygen in the tissues causing

or complicating the outcome. Repetitive hyperbaric

sessions can help many different conditions such as

anemia, burns, and crush injuries. Compromised skin

grafts often improve with hyperbaric oxygenation. The

use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) has become more

widespread in recent years for difficult-to-heal

infections, since antibiotics often fail to clear

resistant strains of pathogens. Treatable infections

include actinomycosis, osteomyelitis, diabetic wounds,

gangrene, and other deadly soft tissue infections.

 

HBO consists of a monoplace chamber, in which only one

patient is entirely enclosed in a pressure chamber,

breathing oxygen at a pressure greater than

atmospheric pressure. Each treatment lasts about 60

minutes. HBO is regarded as a therapeutic modality

because significant physiological mechanisms are

activated as a result. HBO delivers 10-15 times the

oxygen to tissues as normal breathing. HBO is used in

the formation of new capillaries around a wound area,

and to treat anemia, ischemia, and some poisonings.

 

The flooding of the body with oxygen, as in hyperbaric

therapy, tends to remove other gases, such as carbon

monoxide and acute cyanide poisoning. HBO inhibits the

growth of a number of anaerobic, as well as aerobic,

organisms by enhancing phagocytic activity. This

effect complements the improved action of host

disease-fighting factors and is useful in disorders

involving immunosuppression. Studies have demonstrated

a prolonged postantibiotic effect when hyperbaric

oxygen is combined with therapeutic dosages of

antibiotics.

 

Conclusion

 

Ironically, the advent of the new " miracle drugs, " the

antibiotics developed in the 1940s and since, also set

the stage for drug-resistant bacteria that do not

respond to antibiotics. Avoiding or neutralizing

bac-terial infections requires a strong, effective

immune response. Research demonstrates preventive

benefits from herbal and natural alternatives. Natural

and herbal remedies can provide effective treatment

when FDA-approved American antibiotics fail.

 

Summary

 

1. With the arrival of drug-resistant bacteria,

prevention becomes more important than ever. The

body's immune system can be strengthened by vitamin

and trace-element supplementation. Three Life

Extension Mix tablets 3 times a day (at meal times)

provide the essential vitamins and trace elements for

basic immune-system health.

2. Life Extension Herbal Mix incorporates 27

different herbs into a powder designed to make 1 daily

drink. One tsp a day mixed in fruit juice supplies

immune-enhancing nutrients.

3. Lactoferrin, a powerful antimicrobial, is able

to inhibit a wide range of pathogenic bacteria and

other microbes. Its mechanism of action appears to lie

with its ability to bind iron. Up to 900 mg daily (3

capsules) are recommended when fighting an infection.

The maintenance dose of lactoferrin is one 300-mg

capsule a day.

4. Oregano oil contains potent phenols that kill

microscopic bacteria. Thirty drops (1 mL) may be taken

daily with water.

5. Grapefruit seed extract has been shown to

inhibit bacteria, viruses, and fungi. One-fourth tsp

liquid extract diluted in water or juice can be taken

up to 3 times a day.

6. Sarsaparilla root (S. officinalis) attacks and

neutralizes microbial substances in the bloodstream

through its antibiotic activity. Thirty to 60 drops

(1-2 mL) of tincture of sasaparilla may be taken

daily.

7. Shark liver oil contains alkylglycerols, a

family of compounds proven to be beneficial to the

production and stimulation of white blood cells; 1000

mg a day of shark liver oil capsules can have a direct

antibiotic effect.

8. Bromelain, a proteolytic digestive enzyme,

augments conventional antibiotics and makes them more

effective in killing bacteria. The suggested dose is

2000 mg a day with meals.

9. Arginine, an amino acid, stimulates the immune

system's antibacterial components when taken at the

rate of 6-20 grams a day.

10. The active ingredients of cranberry juice

interfere with harmful bacteria that adhere to the

walls of the urinary tract, preventing and actually

helping to cure urinary tract infections. These

ingredients have also been found to help prevent

dental cavities. Cran-Max, a purified extract of

cranberry juice, contains the equivalent of 16 glasses

of juice in each capsule. The recommended dose is one

500-mg capsule a day.

11. Both honey and bee propolis are known to have

antibacterial properties. They work by preventing

bacterial cell division and inhibiting protein

synthesis.

Caution: Do not administer bee products to

children under the age of three.

12. Zinc potentiates antiseptic agents and is

critical to the maintenance of a healthy immune

system. When treating a bacterial infection, 90-120 mg

a day of zinc is suggested.

13. Life Flora will help to recolonize friendly

intestinal flora that can be destroyed by antibiotics.

Two capsules 3 times daily are recommended.

14. A hyperbaric oxygen chamber kills both anaerobic

and aerobic bacteria, while improving immune function

and displacing noxious gases.

 

Product availability

 

Life Extension Mix, Life Extension Herbal Mix,

lactoferrin, oregano oil, Kyolic garlic, Norwegian

shark liver oil, bromelain, echinacea, goldenseal,

Optizinc, arginine, Cran-Max (cranberry juice

concentrate), Life Flora, and bee propolis can be

obtained by calling (800) 544-4440 or by ordering

online.

 

Disclaimer

 

This information (and any accompanying printed

material) is not intended to replace the attention or

advice of a physician or other health care

professional. Anyone who wishes to embark on any

dietary, drug, exercise, or other lifestyle change

intended to prevent or treat a specific disease or

condition should first consult with and seek clearance

from a qualified health care professional.