Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus - BusinessWeek

[Guest guest]

_Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus - BusinessWeek_

(http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/637160.html)

 

This is the type of garbage reporting that needs a strong fired answer from

our profession.

 

AOM needs to strike back - if the media will post the truth.

 

Truth being that it is the untrained and unregulated that mostly cause

these problems.

 

All the more reason NOT to allow allopathic practitioners access to

acupuncture without the bare minimum of 2,150 hours of didactic and clinical

education. As I recall that used to be the standard minimum.

 

Richard

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Business Week

 

 

In a message dated 3/19/2010 6:50:47 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

boblindeherbalist writes:

 

 

 

 

How sad...lets hope that it doesn't make it into US papers (though it

likely will). Of course it is reporting on a problem in Hong Kong not the

US....I didn't know we were that hard up for news articles in medical journals

that we need to report rare issues in other countries that have different

standards of care than here in the US....gee I wonder if there is an increase

in HIV, hep and infections from MDs and hospitals ...maybe even higher than

here in the US...so much for deep thinking

 

Be well,

Bob

Robert Linde, AP, RH

Professional Herbalists Training Program

Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies

901 Central Ave

St. Petersburg, FL 33705

www.acuherbals.www

727-551-0857

 

--- On Fri, 3/19/10, _acudoc11_ (acudoc11)

<_acudoc11_ (acudoc11) > wrote:

 

_acudoc11_ (acudoc11) <_acudoc11_

(acudoc11) >

TCM - Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

BusinessWeek

_Traditional_Traditional_<WBRTraditional_Tra_

(Chinese Medicine )

Friday, March 19, 2010, 9:43 AM

 

 

 

_Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus - BusinessWeek_

(_http://www.business_ (http://www.business/) week.com/ lifestyle/

content/healthda y/637160. html)

 

This is the type of garbage reporting that needs a strong fired answer

from

our profession.

 

AOM needs to strike back - if the media will post the truth.

 

Truth being that it is the untrained and unregulated that mostly cause

these problems.

 

All the more reason NOT to allow allopathic practitioners access to

acupuncture without the bare minimum of 2,150 hours of didactic and

clinical

education. As I recall that used to be the standard minimum.

 

Richard

 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Perhaps we should send letters to BusinessWeek.  And, it would be great if all

the associations and malpractice insurance carriers could challenge this

article.k

 

--- On Fri, 3/19/10, acudoc11 <acudoc11 wrote:

 

acudoc11 <acudoc11

Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

BusinessWeek

Chinese Medicine

Friday, March 19, 2010, 7:43 AM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

_Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus - BusinessWeek_

 

(http://www.business week.com/ lifestyle/ content/healthda y/637160. html)

 

 

 

This is the type of garbage reporting that needs a strong fired answer from

 

our profession.

 

 

 

AOM needs to strike back - if the media will post the truth.

 

 

 

Truth being that it is the untrained and unregulated that mostly cause

 

these problems.

 

 

 

All the more reason NOT to allow allopathic practitioners access to

 

acupuncture without the bare minimum of 2,150 hours of didactic and clinical

 

education. As I recall that used to be the standard minimum.

 

 

 

Richard

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

It is all over the internet now... do a google search for the following-

 

Acupuncture Hepatitis B, flesh-eating disease, joint destruction, paralysis,

multi-organ failure

 

Henry

 

Chinese Medicine , acudoc11 wrote:

>

> _Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus - BusinessWeek_

> (http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/637160.html)

>

> This is the type of garbage reporting that needs a strong fired answer from

> our profession.

>

> AOM needs to strike back - if the media will post the truth.

>

> Truth being that it is the untrained and unregulated that mostly cause

> these problems.

>

> All the more reason NOT to allow allopathic practitioners access to

> acupuncture without the bare minimum of 2,150 hours of didactic and clinical

> education. As I recall that used to be the standard minimum.

>

> Richard

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Here is a link to the original article in the British Medical Journal-

 

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/340/mar18_1/c1268

 

Important quotes:

 

" In the 1970s and 1980s most infections associated with acupuncture were

sporadic cases involving pyogenic bacteria. So far, more than 50 cases have been

described globally. "

 

" Apart from pyogenic bacterial infections, five outbreaks of hepatitis B virus

infection associated with acupuncture, which affected more than 80 patients,

have been described globally since the 1970s. "

 

" Owing to the relatively hardy nature of mycobacteria, the long incubation

period of the infection, and the difficulty in making a diagnosis, mycobacteria

have caused two large outbreaks associated with acupuncture, which affected more

than 70 patients. "

 

So that makes a grand total of 200 reported infections WORLDWIDE since the

1970s.

 

Regards, Henry

 

Chinese Medicine , acudoc11 wrote:

>

> _Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus - BusinessWeek_

> (http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/637160.html)

>

> This is the type of garbage reporting that needs a strong fired answer from

> our profession.

>

> AOM needs to strike back - if the media will post the truth.

>

> Truth being that it is the untrained and unregulated that mostly cause

> these problems.

>

> All the more reason NOT to allow allopathic practitioners access to

> acupuncture without the bare minimum of 2,150 hours of didactic and clinical

> education. As I recall that used to be the standard minimum.

>

> Richard

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Here is the link to the original editorial in BMJ:

 

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/340/mar18_1/c1268#REF11

 

Sean

 

On Mar 19, 2010, at 9:51 AM, acudoc11 wrote:

 

> Business Week

>

>

> In a message dated 3/19/2010 6:50:47 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

> boblindeherbalist writes:

>

> How sad...lets hope that it doesn't make it into US papers (though it

> likely will). Of course it is reporting on a problem in Hong Kong not the

> US....I didn't know we were that hard up for news articles in medical journals

> that we need to report rare issues in other countries that have different

> standards of care than here in the US....gee I wonder if there is an increase

> in HIV, hep and infections from MDs and hospitals ...maybe even higher than

> here in the US...so much for deep thinking

>

> Be well,

> Bob

> Robert Linde, AP, RH

> Professional Herbalists Training Program

> Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies

> 901 Central Ave

> St. Petersburg, FL 33705

> www.acuherbals.www

> 727-551-0857

>

> --- On Fri, 3/19/10, _acudoc11_ (acudoc11)

> <_acudoc11_ (acudoc11) > wrote:

>

> _acudoc11_ (acudoc11) <_acudoc11_

> (acudoc11) >

> Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

> BusinessWeek

> _Traditional_Traditional_<WBRTraditional_Tra_

> (Chinese Medicine )

> Friday, March 19, 2010, 9:43 AM

>

> _Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus - BusinessWeek_

> (_http://www.business_ (http://www.business/) week.com/ lifestyle/

> content/healthda y/637160. html)

>

> This is the type of garbage reporting that needs a strong fired answer

> from

> our profession.

>

> AOM needs to strike back - if the media will post the truth.

>

> Truth being that it is the untrained and unregulated that mostly cause

> these problems.

>

> All the more reason NOT to allow allopathic practitioners access to

> acupuncture without the bare minimum of 2,150 hours of didactic and

> clinical

> education. As I recall that used to be the standard minimum.

>

> Richard

>

>

[Guest guest]

(Thanks Sean for the link to the BMJ editorial)

 

That's hilarious:

 

" to prevent infections transmitted by acupuncture, infection control measures

should be implemented, such as use of disposable needles, skin disinfection

procedures, and aseptic techniques. Stricter regulation and accreditation

requirements are also needed. "

 

 

To mix in such an important concept such as single use needles with skin

disinfection and aseptic techniques boggles my mind. The only important way that

infection is transmitted from patient to patient is through re-use of needles.

Infection by bacterially-loaded cloth via insertion wound is so incredibly rare

it only merits discussion with regards to people with severe illnesses who

probably are not outpatients.

 

So the BMJ editorial mentions that pyogenic infection is known in OVER fifty

cases globally! I'm not ever going to do acupuncture again! Until I start my

shift at 2pm today. I mean, that has got to sound ridiculous to anyone. That's

50 cases since the 1970s, people. You what else since the 1970s? OVER eighty

cases of Hep B infections globally!

 

BUT, the NEW threat of a 21st-century clinical syndrome involving mycobacterial

infection caused by acupuncture has affected OVER *seventy* people.

 

AND, the editor of the BMJ is helpful and hopeful, because we know that this

acupuncture problem may get worse since:

 

" The emergence of community associated MRSA infections may aggravate the

problem. "

 

I hate it when MRSA just, you know, e-murjez.

 

What *I* will bet is that this acupuncture problem is worse, in a moral sense

(because of the Chinese (the new Russians)), than surgeons leaving surgical

objects inside of patients. I mean, it's only 1 person in every ten-thousand

operations that gets something left in them, conservatively. A sponge, a needle,

broken equipment, and let's make a big deal about the famous case of " the

towel " . No word on whether it was a beach or bath towel. haha. So, in the u.s.

that is between 2000 and 6000 people a year. The problem with the sponges is

that they can take years to be discovered, because by that time there is a

life-threatening infection, which does, at times, prove fatal.

Between 1995 and 1998 the reported incidence of " foreign body retention " to one

insurance company was about 40 per year. A legal document issued by this

insurance company to surgeons recommended 4 major strategies, two of which I

will list here:

 

2. Make certain that counts are performed and reported to surgeons as correct at

the conclusion of every surgical procedure.

3. Include one phrase—without fail—in every operation report: The sponge and

needle counts were reported to be correct.

 

 

Lastly, we will note that the Journal for Surgical research noted, in 2007 (the

21st century, I will point out), that:

 

" Medical errors during surgery are not well studied. "

 

As someone I know liked to say, with a very particular tone: " Well, well well " !

 

Thanks,

Hugo

 

________________________________

Hugo Ramiro

http://middlemedicine.wordpress.com

http://www.middlemedicine.org

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________

" acudoc11 " <acudoc11

Chinese Medicine

Fri, 19 March, 2010 9:51:43

Re: Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

BusinessWeek

 

 

Business Week

 

 

In a message dated 3/19/2010 6:50:47 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

boblindeherbalist@ writes:

 

How sad...lets hope that it doesn't make it into US papers (though it

likely will). Of course it is reporting on a problem in Hong Kong not the

US....I didn't know we were that hard up for news articles in medical journals

that we need to report rare issues in other countries that have different

standards of care than here in the US....gee I wonder if there is an increase

in HIV, hep and infections from MDs and hospitals ...maybe even higher than

here in the US...so much for deep thinking

 

Be well,

Bob

Robert Linde, AP, RH

Professional Herbalists Training Program

Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies

901 Central Ave

St. Petersburg, FL 33705

www.acuherbals. www

727-551-0857

 

--- On Fri, 3/19/10, _acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) acu_ (acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) com)

<_acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) acu_ (acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) com) > wrote:

 

_acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) acu_ (acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) com) <_acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) acu_

(acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) com) >

TCM - Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

BusinessWeek

_Traditional_ Traditional_ <WBRTraditional_ Tra_

(Traditional_ Chinese_Medicine )

Friday, March 19, 2010, 9:43 AM

 

_Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus - BusinessWeek_

(_http://www.business _ (http://www.business /) week.com/ lifestyle/

content/healthda y/637160. html)

 

This is the type of garbage reporting that needs a strong fired answer

from

our profession.

 

AOM needs to strike back - if the media will post the truth.

 

Truth being that it is the untrained and unregulated that mostly cause

these problems.

 

All the more reason NOT to allow allopathic practitioners access to

acupuncture without the bare minimum of 2,150 hours of didactic and

clinical

education. As I recall that used to be the standard minimum.

 

Richard

 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 

 

[Guest guest]

Instead of talking about this amongst ourselves, send these opinions to the

editor of the magazine. That's what I did. I couldn't get their email to work

so I sent them a letter through snail mail reminding them of the number of

deaths caused by properly prescribed drugs and also sent the stats on deaths and

morbidity due to surgical, drug, and nosocomial infections. Of course, they

will never mention these stats publically. But each of us should send them a

letter of complaint with allopathic stats from the CDC.

 

 

 

I wrote them, but I didn't mention I was an acupuncturist. Didn't know whether

that would help or hurt my cause because I didn't want to appear biased.

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Dr. Don J. Snow, DAOM, MPH, L.Ac.

 

 

 

Chinese Medicine

subincor

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:34:12 +0000

Re: Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

BusinessWeek

 

 

 

 

 

(Thanks Sean for the link to the BMJ editorial)

 

That's hilarious:

 

" to prevent infections transmitted by acupuncture, infection control measures

should be implemented, such as use of disposable needles, skin disinfection

procedures, and aseptic techniques. Stricter regulation and accreditation

requirements are also needed. "

 

To mix in such an important concept such as single use needles with skin

disinfection and aseptic techniques boggles my mind. The only important way that

infection is transmitted from patient to patient is through re-use of needles.

Infection by bacterially-loaded cloth via insertion wound is so incredibly rare

it only merits discussion with regards to people with severe illnesses who

probably are not outpatients.

 

So the BMJ editorial mentions that pyogenic infection is known in OVER fifty

cases globally! I'm not ever going to do acupuncture again! Until I start my

shift at 2pm today. I mean, that has got to sound ridiculous to anyone. That's

50 cases since the 1970s, people. You what else since the 1970s? OVER eighty

cases of Hep B infections globally!

 

BUT, the NEW threat of a 21st-century clinical syndrome involving mycobacterial

infection caused by acupuncture has affected OVER *seventy* people.

 

AND, the editor of the BMJ is helpful and hopeful, because we know that this

acupuncture problem may get worse since:

 

" The emergence of community associated MRSA infections may aggravate the

problem. "

 

I hate it when MRSA just, you know, e-murjez.

 

What *I* will bet is that this acupuncture problem is worse, in a moral sense

(because of the Chinese (the new Russians)), than surgeons leaving surgical

objects inside of patients. I mean, it's only 1 person in every ten-thousand

operations that gets something left in them, conservatively. A sponge, a needle,

broken equipment, and let's make a big deal about the famous case of " the

towel " . No word on whether it was a beach or bath towel. haha. So, in the u.s.

that is between 2000 and 6000 people a year. The problem with the sponges is

that they can take years to be discovered, because by that time there is a

life-threatening infection, which does, at times, prove fatal.

Between 1995 and 1998 the reported incidence of " foreign body retention " to one

insurance company was about 40 per year. A legal document issued by this

insurance company to surgeons recommended 4 major strategies, two of which I

will list here:

 

2. Make certain that counts are performed and reported to surgeons as correct at

the conclusion of every surgical procedure.

3. Include one phrase—without fail—in every operation report: The sponge and

needle counts were reported to be correct.

 

Lastly, we will note that the Journal for Surgical research noted, in 2007 (the

21st century, I will point out), that:

 

" Medical errors during surgery are not well studied. "

 

As someone I know liked to say, with a very particular tone: " Well, well well " !

 

Thanks,

Hugo

 

________________________________

Hugo Ramiro

http://middlemedicine.wordpress.com

http://www.middlemedicine.org

 

________________________________

" acudoc11 " <acudoc11

Chinese Medicine

Fri, 19 March, 2010 9:51:43

Re: Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

BusinessWeek

 

Business Week

 

In a message dated 3/19/2010 6:50:47 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

boblindeherbalist@ writes:

 

How sad...lets hope that it doesn't make it into US papers (though it

likely will). Of course it is reporting on a problem in Hong Kong not the

US....I didn't know we were that hard up for news articles in medical journals

that we need to report rare issues in other countries that have different

standards of care than here in the US....gee I wonder if there is an increase

in HIV, hep and infections from MDs and hospitals ...maybe even higher than

here in the US...so much for deep thinking

 

Be well,

Bob

Robert Linde, AP, RH

Professional Herbalists Training Program

Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies

901 Central Ave

St. Petersburg, FL 33705

www.acuherbals. www

727-551-0857

 

--- On Fri, 3/19/10, _acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) acu_ (acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) com)

<_acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) acu_ (acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) com) > wrote:

 

_acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) acu_ (acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) com) <_acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) acu_

(acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) com) >

Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

BusinessWeek

_Traditional_ Traditional_ <WBRTraditional_ Tra_

(Traditional_ Chinese_Medicine )

Friday, March 19, 2010, 9:43 AM

 

_Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus - BusinessWeek_

(_http://www.business _ (http://www.business /) week.com/ lifestyle/

content/healthda y/637160. html)

 

This is the type of garbage reporting that needs a strong fired answer

from

our profession.

 

AOM needs to strike back - if the media will post the truth.

 

Truth being that it is the untrained and unregulated that mostly cause

these problems.

 

All the more reason NOT to allow allopathic practitioners access to

acupuncture without the bare minimum of 2,150 hours of didactic and

clinical

education. As I recall that used to be the standard minimum.

 

Richard

 

 

[Guest guest]

Instead of talking about this amongst ourselves, send these opinions to the

editor of the magazine. That's what I did. I couldn't get their email to work

so I sent them a letter through snail mail reminding them of the number of

deaths caused by properly prescribed drugs and also sent the stats on deaths and

morbidity due to surgical, drug, and nosocomial infections. Of course, they

will never mention these stats publically. But each of us should send them a

letter of complaint with allopathic stats from the CDC.

 

 

 

I didn't not tell them I was an acupuncturist as I was a little ambivalent about

it. I didn't want to appear biased.

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Dr. Donald J. Snow, Jr., DAOM, MPH, L.Ac.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chinese Medicine

subincor

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:34:12 +0000

Re: Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

BusinessWeek

 

 

 

 

 

(Thanks Sean for the link to the BMJ editorial)

 

That's hilarious:

 

" to prevent infections transmitted by acupuncture, infection control measures

should be implemented, such as use of disposable needles, skin disinfection

procedures, and aseptic techniques. Stricter regulation and accreditation

requirements are also needed. "

 

To mix in such an important concept such as single use needles with skin

disinfection and aseptic techniques boggles my mind. The only important way that

infection is transmitted from patient to patient is through re-use of needles.

Infection by bacterially-loaded cloth via insertion wound is so incredibly rare

it only merits discussion with regards to people with severe illnesses who

probably are not outpatients.

 

So the BMJ editorial mentions that pyogenic infection is known in OVER fifty

cases globally! I'm not ever going to do acupuncture again! Until I start my

shift at 2pm today. I mean, that has got to sound ridiculous to anyone. That's

50 cases since the 1970s, people. You what else since the 1970s? OVER eighty

cases of Hep B infections globally!

 

BUT, the NEW threat of a 21st-century clinical syndrome involving mycobacterial

infection caused by acupuncture has affected OVER *seventy* people.

 

AND, the editor of the BMJ is helpful and hopeful, because we know that this

acupuncture problem may get worse since:

 

" The emergence of community associated MRSA infections may aggravate the

problem. "

 

I hate it when MRSA just, you know, e-murjez.

 

What *I* will bet is that this acupuncture problem is worse, in a moral sense

(because of the Chinese (the new Russians)), than surgeons leaving surgical

objects inside of patients. I mean, it's only 1 person in every ten-thousand

operations that gets something left in them, conservatively. A sponge, a needle,

broken equipment, and let's make a big deal about the famous case of " the

towel " . No word on whether it was a beach or bath towel. haha. So, in the u.s.

that is between 2000 and 6000 people a year. The problem with the sponges is

that they can take years to be discovered, because by that time there is a

life-threatening infection, which does, at times, prove fatal.

Between 1995 and 1998 the reported incidence of " foreign body retention " to one

insurance company was about 40 per year. A legal document issued by this

insurance company to surgeons recommended 4 major strategies, two of which I

will list here:

 

2. Make certain that counts are performed and reported to surgeons as correct at

the conclusion of every surgical procedure.

3. Include one phrase—without fail—in every operation report: The sponge and

needle counts were reported to be correct.

 

Lastly, we will note that the Journal for Surgical research noted, in 2007 (the

21st century, I will point out), that:

 

" Medical errors during surgery are not well studied. "

 

As someone I know liked to say, with a very particular tone: " Well, well well " !

 

Thanks,

Hugo

 

________________________________

Hugo Ramiro

http://middlemedicine.wordpress.com

http://www.middlemedicine.org

 

________________________________

" acudoc11 " <acudoc11

Chinese Medicine

Fri, 19 March, 2010 9:51:43

Re: Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

BusinessWeek

 

Business Week

 

In a message dated 3/19/2010 6:50:47 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

boblindeherbalist@ writes:

 

How sad...lets hope that it doesn't make it into US papers (though it

likely will). Of course it is reporting on a problem in Hong Kong not the

US....I didn't know we were that hard up for news articles in medical journals

that we need to report rare issues in other countries that have different

standards of care than here in the US....gee I wonder if there is an increase

in HIV, hep and infections from MDs and hospitals ...maybe even higher than

here in the US...so much for deep thinking

 

Be well,

Bob

Robert Linde, AP, RH

Professional Herbalists Training Program

Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies

901 Central Ave

St. Petersburg, FL 33705

www.acuherbals. www

727-551-0857

 

--- On Fri, 3/19/10, _acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) acu_ (acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) com)

<_acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) acu_ (acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) com) > wrote:

 

_acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) acu_ (acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) com) <_acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) acu_

(acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) com) >

Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

BusinessWeek

_Traditional_ Traditional_ <WBRTraditional_ Tra_

(Traditional_ Chinese_Medicine )

Friday, March 19, 2010, 9:43 AM

 

_Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus - BusinessWeek_

(_http://www.business _ (http://www.business /) week.com/ lifestyle/

content/healthda y/637160. html)

 

This is the type of garbage reporting that needs a strong fired answer

from

our profession.

 

AOM needs to strike back - if the media will post the truth.

 

Truth being that it is the untrained and unregulated that mostly cause

these problems.

 

All the more reason NOT to allow allopathic practitioners access to

acupuncture without the bare minimum of 2,150 hours of didactic and

clinical

education. As I recall that used to be the standard minimum.

 

Richard

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hugo, I love your rants. Always right on.

k

 

 

 

Karen R. Adams,

Lic Ac, Dipl Ac

25 Bank Row, 3S

Greenfield, MA 01301

413-768-8333

www.adamsacupuncture.info

 

Greenfield Community Acupuncture

3 Bank Row, Suite 2S

Greenfield, MA 01301

413-772-0077

www.greenfldcommacu.com

 

 

 

Believe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________

Hugo Ramiro <subincor

Chinese Medicine

Fri, March 19, 2010 1:34:12 PM

Re: Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

BusinessWeek

 

 

(Thanks Sean for the link to the BMJ editorial)

 

That's hilarious:

 

" to prevent infections transmitted by acupuncture, infection control measures

should be implemented, such as use of disposable needles, skin disinfection

procedures, and aseptic techniques. Stricter regulation and accreditation

requirements are also needed. "

 

To mix in such an important concept such as single use needles with skin

disinfection and aseptic techniques boggles my mind. The only important way that

infection is transmitted from patient to patient is through re-use of needles.

Infection by bacterially- loaded cloth via insertion wound is so incredibly rare

it only merits discussion with regards to people with severe illnesses who

probably are not outpatients.

 

So the BMJ editorial mentions that pyogenic infection is known in OVER fifty

cases globally! I'm not ever going to do acupuncture again! Until I start my

shift at 2pm today. I mean, that has got to sound ridiculous to anyone. That's

50 cases since the 1970s, people. You what else since the 1970s? OVER eighty

cases of Hep B infections globally!

 

BUT, the NEW threat of a 21st-century clinical syndrome involving mycobacterial

infection caused by acupuncture has affected OVER *seventy* people.

 

AND, the editor of the BMJ is helpful and hopeful, because we know that this

acupuncture problem may get worse since:

 

" The emergence of community associated MRSA infections may aggravate the

problem. "

 

I hate it when MRSA just, you know, e-murjez.

 

What *I* will bet is that this acupuncture problem is worse, in a moral sense

(because of the Chinese (the new Russians)), than surgeons leaving surgical

objects inside of patients. I mean, it's only 1 person in every ten-thousand

operations that gets something left in them, conservatively. A sponge, a needle,

broken equipment, and let's make a big deal about the famous case of " the

towel " . No word on whether it was a beach or bath towel. haha. So, in the u.s.

that is between 2000 and 6000 people a year. The problem with the sponges is

that they can take years to be discovered, because by that time there is a

life-threatening infection, which does, at times, prove fatal.

Between 1995 and 1998 the reported incidence of " foreign body retention " to one

insurance company was about 40 per year. A legal document issued by this

insurance company to surgeons recommended 4 major strategies, two of which I

will list here:

 

2. Make certain that counts are performed and reported to surgeons as correct at

the conclusion of every surgical procedure.

3. Include one phrase—without fail—in every operation report: The sponge and

needle counts were reported to be correct.

 

Lastly, we will note that the Journal for Surgical research noted, in 2007 (the

21st century, I will point out), that:

 

" Medical errors during surgery are not well studied. "

 

As someone I know liked to say, with a very particular tone: " Well, well well " !

 

Thanks,

Hugo

 

____________ _________ _________ __

Hugo Ramiro

http://middlemedici ne.wordpress. com

http://www.middlemedicine.org

 

____________ _________ _________ __

" acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) com " <acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) com>

 

Fri, 19 March, 2010 9:51:43

Re: Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

BusinessWeek

 

Business Week

 

In a message dated 3/19/2010 6:50:47 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

boblindeherbalist@ writes:

 

How sad...lets hope that it doesn't make it into US papers (though it

likely will). Of course it is reporting on a problem in Hong Kong not the

US....I didn't know we were that hard up for news articles in medical journals

that we need to report rare issues in other countries that have different

standards of care than here in the US....gee I wonder if there is an increase

in HIV, hep and infections from MDs and hospitals ...maybe even higher than

here in the US...so much for deep thinking

 

Be well,

Bob

Robert Linde, AP, RH

Professional Herbalists Training Program

Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies

901 Central Ave

St. Petersburg, FL 33705

www.acuherbals. www

727-551-0857

 

--- On Fri, 3/19/10, _acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) acu_ (acudoc11@ aol. com)

<_acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) acu_ (acudoc11@ aol. com) > wrote:

 

_acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) acu_ (acudoc11@ aol. com) <_acudoc11 (AT) aol (DOT) acu_

(acudoc11@ aol. com) >

TCM - Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

BusinessWeek

_Traditional_ Traditional_ <WBRTraditional_ Tra_

(Traditional _ Chinese_Medicine )

Friday, March 19, 2010, 9:43 AM

 

_Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus - BusinessWeek_

(_http://www.business _ (http://www.business /) week.com/ lifestyle/

content/healthda y/637160. html)

 

This is the type of garbage reporting that needs a strong fired answer

from

our profession.

 

AOM needs to strike back - if the media will post the truth.

 

Truth being that it is the untrained and unregulated that mostly cause

these problems.

 

All the more reason NOT to allow allopathic practitioners access to

acupuncture without the bare minimum of 2,150 hours of didactic and

clinical

education. As I recall that used to be the standard minimum.

 

Richard

 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 

 

[Guest guest]

These BMJ folks don't seem to friendly to acupuncture.  Then we just had the

study by the British Fertility Society.  Wazzup with this?  It is all over my

alumni list serve too.

 

 

 

I think my patients will diffuse it, if it hits the US papers, but really what

are these people - Hong Hong researchers, right, up to.

 

 

 

Anne

 

Anne C. Crowley, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac.

www.LaPlataAcupuncture.com

 

-

" Sean Doherty " <sean

" Traditional "

<Chinese Medicine >

Friday, March 19, 2010 11:08:17 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern

Re:  Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

BusinessWeek

 

Here is the link to the original editorial in BMJ:

 

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/340/mar18_1/c1268#REF11

 

Sean

 

On Mar 19, 2010, at 9:51 AM, acudoc11 wrote:

 

> Business Week

>

>

> In a message dated 3/19/2010 6:50:47 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

> boblindeherbalist writes:

>

> How sad...lets hope that it doesn't make it into US papers (though it

> likely will). Of course it is reporting on a problem in Hong Kong not the

> US....I didn't know we were that hard up for news articles in medical journals

> that we need to report rare issues in other countries that have different

> standards of care than here in the US....gee I wonder if there is an increase

> in HIV, hep and infections from MDs and hospitals ...maybe even higher than

> here in the US...so much for deep thinking

>

> Be well,

> Bob

> Robert Linde, AP, RH

> Professional Herbalists Training Program

> Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies

> 901 Central Ave

> St. Petersburg, FL 33705

> www.acuherbals.www

> 727-551-0857

>

> --- On Fri, 3/19/10, _acudoc11_ (acudoc11)

> <_acudoc11_ (acudoc11) > wrote:

>

> _acudoc11_ (acudoc11) <_acudoc11_

> (acudoc11) >

> Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

> BusinessWeek

> _Traditional_Traditional_<WBRTraditional_Tra_

> (Chinese Medicine )

> Friday, March 19, 2010, 9:43 AM

>

> _Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus - BusinessWeek_

> (_http://www.business_ (http://www.business/) week.com/ lifestyle/

> content/healthda y/637160. html)

>

> This is the type of garbage reporting that needs a strong fired answer

> from

> our profession.

>

> AOM needs to strike back - if the media will post the truth.

>

> Truth being that it is the untrained and unregulated that mostly cause

> these problems.

>

> All the more reason NOT to allow allopathic practitioners access to

> acupuncture without the bare minimum of 2,150 hours of didactic and

> clinical

> education. As I recall that used to be the standard minimum.

>

> Richard

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sounds like people doing acupuncture in hospitals.

 

 

 

 

 

-

" henry_buchtel " <henry.buchtel

<Chinese Medicine >

Friday, March 19, 2010 7:53 AM

Re: Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

BusinessWeek

 

 

> It is all over the internet now... do a google search for the following-

>

> Acupuncture Hepatitis B, flesh-eating disease, joint destruction,

> paralysis, multi-organ failure

>

> Henry

[Guest guest]

I also wonder what their agenda is. .

 

 

On Mar 19, 2010, at 7:53 PM, Anne Crowley wrote:

 

>

>

> These BMJ folks don't seem to friendly to acupuncture. Then we just had the

study by the British Fertility Society. Wazzup with this? It is all over my

alumni list serve too.

>

> I think my patients will diffuse it, if it hits the US papers, but really what

are these people - Hong Hong researchers, right, up to.

>

> Anne

>

> Anne C. Crowley, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac.

> www.LaPlataAcupuncture.com

>

> -

> " Sean Doherty " <sean

> " Traditional "

<Chinese Medicine >

> Friday, March 19, 2010 11:08:17 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern

> Re: Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

BusinessWeek

>

> Here is the link to the original editorial in BMJ:

>

> http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/340/mar18_1/c1268#REF11

>

> Sean

>

> On Mar 19, 2010, at 9:51 AM, acudoc11 wrote:

>

> > Business Week

> >

> >

> > In a message dated 3/19/2010 6:50:47 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

> > boblindeherbalist writes:

> >

> > How sad...lets hope that it doesn't make it into US papers (though it

> > likely will). Of course it is reporting on a problem in Hong Kong not the

> > US....I didn't know we were that hard up for news articles in medical

journals

> > that we need to report rare issues in other countries that have different

> > standards of care than here in the US....gee I wonder if there is an

increase

> > in HIV, hep and infections from MDs and hospitals ...maybe even higher than

> > here in the US...so much for deep thinking

> >

> > Be well,

> > Bob

> > Robert Linde, AP, RH

> > Professional Herbalists Training Program

> > Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies

> > 901 Central Ave

> > St. Petersburg, FL 33705

> > www.acuherbals.www

> > 727-551-0857

> >

> > --- On Fri, 3/19/10, _acudoc11_ (acudoc11)

> > <_acudoc11_ (acudoc11) > wrote:

> >

> > _acudoc11_ (acudoc11) <_acudoc11_

> > (acudoc11) >

> > Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

> > BusinessWeek

> > _Traditional_Traditional_<WBRTraditional_Tra_

> > (Chinese Medicine )

> > Friday, March 19, 2010, 9:43 AM

> >

> > _Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus - BusinessWeek_

> > (_http://www.business_ (http://www.business/) week.com/ lifestyle/

> > content/healthda y/637160. html)

> >

> > This is the type of garbage reporting that needs a strong fired answer

> > from

> > our profession.

> >

> > AOM needs to strike back - if the media will post the truth.

> >

> > Truth being that it is the untrained and unregulated that mostly cause

> > these problems.

> >

> > All the more reason NOT to allow allopathic practitioners access to

> > acupuncture without the bare minimum of 2,150 hours of didactic and

> > clinical

> > education. As I recall that used to be the standard minimum.

> >

> > Richard

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Just have them look at the CNT standard...its just the news hounds trying to

discredit us.

 

On Fri, Mar 19, 2010 at 6:43 AM, <acudoc11 wrote:

 

>

>

> _Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus - BusinessWeek_

> (http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/637160.html)

>

> This is the type of garbage reporting that needs a strong fired answer from

>

> our profession.

>

> AOM needs to strike back - if the media will post the truth.

>

> Truth being that it is the untrained and unregulated that mostly cause

> these problems.

>

> All the more reason NOT to allow allopathic practitioners access to

> acupuncture without the bare minimum of 2,150 hours of didactic and

> clinical

> education. As I recall that used to be the standard minimum.

>

> Richard

>

>

[Guest guest]

AOM needs to strike back - if the media will post the truth.

 

Why does AOM need to strike back, and not you and I? Write a letter to the

editor. Be proactive, c'mon.

 

 

Chinese Medicine , " henry_buchtel "

<henry.buchtel wrote:

>

> It is all over the internet now... do a google search for the following-

>

> Acupuncture Hepatitis B, flesh-eating disease, joint destruction, paralysis,

multi-organ failure

>

> Henry

>

> Chinese Medicine , acudoc11@ wrote:

> >

> > _Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus - BusinessWeek_

> > (http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/637160.html)

> >

> > This is the type of garbage reporting that needs a strong fired answer from

> > our profession.

> >

> > AOM needs to strike back - if the media will post the truth.

> >

> > Truth being that it is the untrained and unregulated that mostly cause

> > these problems.

> >

> > All the more reason NOT to allow allopathic practitioners access to

> > acupuncture without the bare minimum of 2,150 hours of didactic and clinical

> > education. As I recall that used to be the standard minimum.

> >

> > Richard

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

is anyone being proactive in their climic to

address this article?

 

i want to put a short blurb on my clinic FB page

stating that *any* penetration of the skin

causes a risk of infection and that my

clinic takes great care with CNT, etc.

 

i also mention this to EVERY patient as part of the

consent form.

 

thoughts?

 

thanks so much,

jean dombroski, LAc

upstate ny

[Guest guest]

You could also mention that shaking hands with people poses a greater risk.

 

--- On Tue, 3/23/10, greypal <greypal wrote:

 

greypal <greypal

Re: Prevention of Acupuncture Infection Needs More Focus -

BusinessWeek

Chinese Medicine

Received: Tuesday, March 23, 2010, 1:11 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

is anyone being proactive in their climic to

 

address this article?

 

 

 

i want to put a short blurb on my clinic FB page

 

stating that *any* penetration of the skin

 

causes a risk of infection and that my

 

clinic takes great care with CNT, etc.

 

 

 

i also mention this to EVERY patient as part of the

 

consent form.

 

 

 

thoughts?

 

 

 

thanks so much,

 

jean dombroski, LAc

 

upstate ny

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

________________

Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr!

 

http://www.flickr.com/gift/

 

 

[Guest guest]

If all they can come up with is 50 to 70 cases in the history of modern

acupuncture, that's a pretty darn good track record. I'd be willing to bet that

there are far more incidences of death from injection, and improper

administration of medication. The thing is, they didn't express the number as a

rate: number of acu treatments and number of problematic incidences as a

percentage. I'm sure that this kind of info is on file at some kind of gvt

agency...

 

Marie