HERBSPHERE
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MRSA – Silver Pyjamas for Protection? MRSA (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is not a disease, it is a bacterium which can be found harmlessly on the skin and mucus membranes (nasal passages) of humans in circa 30%1-50%2 (estimates differ) of the population. Many Staphylococcus aureus bacteria have developed resistance to a range of antibiotics, but MRSA is resistant to most antibiotics and is therefore difficult to eradicate. The main threat to the public is highlighted and persists in patients in hospital care when the fighting ability of the immune system is low, as is to be expected. The bacteria can cause infections if they get into wounds or are introduced into the body or blood stream by surgery via medical devices, such as intravenous catheters. It is particularly dangerous for patients who are severely ill, or immuno-suppressed such as those in ITU (Intensive Care Units), or undergoing cancer chemotherapy.3 Official statistics also show that the number of MRSA deaths doubled in four years between 1999 and 2003.4 Since the mandatory recording of blood-born MRSA infections was introduced in England in 2001, that number has gradually increased from 7,249 in 2001/2 to 7,684 in 2003/4.5 Plus the number of deaths linked to hospital MRSA rose by nearly a quarter, or mentions of MRSA in this connection on death certificates, increased by 22% between 2003/4.5A Although MRSA has been around in one form or another for about half a century, if hospital hygiene is not made more effective the situation will prevail and still exist in another 50 years time.6 A research prognosis claims that at its present rate of growth 100,000 could die each year in the UK, yet ironically it has been reported that in some large hospitals in Africa where most of the time they do not have running water or running water at all, the number of MRSA cases is practically nil.7 However, on 20th June 2006 Professor Hajo Grundmann, a world expert in infectious diseases, said MRSA in hospitals is already ‘out of control’ in many countries.7A The emergence of stronger and more virulent strains could prove potentially ‘explosive’.7B In fact, it is estimated that in Britain MRSA and other infections such as Clostridium difficile kill up to 5,000 patients every year; other estimates claim the real figure may be twice as high.7C In England alone, 300,000 patients pick up an infection in hospital annually7D and up to 52 million people could be carrying the superbug woldwide,7E including Europe, North and South America, North Africa, the Middle East and East Asia, which means that MRSA has become a super-serious matter. The Appliance of Science and Natural products Of course, the pharmaceutical industry is continuously busy working on producing new antibiotics, but that does not currently halt the murderous march of MRSA. For example, at the end of last year, it was announced that Scots biologists at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, who have spent the past five years developing a powerful new antibiotic from bacteria found on seaweed from North Berwick, East Lothian, discovered that the best way to cultivate the cure is on the surface of an ordinary kitchen scouring-pad, bizarrely on one particular brand only.8 Perhaps this similitude is not so surprising as seaweeds have been found to defend themselves from specific pathogens with naturally occurring antibiotics. American scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta isolated a potent antifungal compound contained in the common seaweed Lobophora variegata, which they claim explains why some seaweeds, sponges and corals appear to avoid most infections by fungi and bacteria.9 ‘Seaweeds live in constant contact with potentially dangerous microbes, and they have apparently evolved a chemical defence to help resist disease.’10 ‘Based on the antimicrobial activities we detected in a large survey of many different algal species, it is possible that antimicrobial chemical defences are more common than previously believed and that L. variegata maybe one of many species that use natural antibiotics against infection.’11 It may be that the bactericidal benefits of eating seaweeds also may not have yet been thoroughly explored. Seaweeds are part and parcel of the everyday Japanese diet. For example, the Okinawan food culture in the Ryuku island is one of the world’s most interesting cultures because its consumers have the longest life expectancies and low disability rates,12 which exceptional longevity extends to studies at home and abroad e.g. migrant groups in Hawaii and Brazil, making seaweed and green vegetables (alongside of fish and soy intake) candidates for chronic non-communicable disease prevention.13 Seaweeds not only provide cardiovascular14 and cerebro-vascular protection15 and other benefits, but principally a diet-oriented outstandingly sound immune system. It could therefore be speculated that, e.g. in fresh sushi 16 foodstuffs, the partakers might be getting a lot else in the way of beneficial preventive ‘food medicine’ for health. Although powerful antibiotics may be in the pipeline, eradication of MRSA right now depends on hospital hygiene. Polyhexanide, a solution that has been used safely for years as a contact lense preservative, a disinfection agent in swimming pools and to treat infected wounds and colonized skin on mainland Europe, has had good decontamination results in Germany.17 When it was introduced at the 972-bed Klinikum Weisbaden hospital the incidence of MRSA dropped by 78% over a three year period.18 However, on the natural front, Honey is once again gaining recognition for its decontamination and curative assets. It has been known for centuries as a traditional therapy with wound-healing effects due to its bactericidal properties.19 In spring 2001 in Wales, UK researchers mindful of the urgent need for means of reducing the bacterial bioburden of leg ulcers, in a case study of an immuno-suppressed patient with a sub-clinical MRSA infection subsequently treated it with the topical application of Manuka honey,20 without any alteration of the application of drugs.21 The result was that MRSA was eradicated from the ulcer and rapid healing was successfully achieved. It was concluded that honey appears to have enormous potential in solving new problems. That honey is a good healer can no longer be in dispute, even though it has been said in a summary that some clinicians are under the impression that there is little or no evidence to support the use of honey as a wound dressing. In order to allow sound decisions to be made a seminar article covering various reports has been published on the clinical use of honey.22 Positive findings on honey in wound-care have been reported from 17 randomized controlled trials involving a total of 1,965 participants and 5 clinical trials of other forms involving 97 participants treated with honey.23 The effectiveness of honey in assisting wound-healing has also been demonstrated in 16 trials on a total of 533 wounds on experimental animals.24 There is also a large amount of reported case studies evidence.25 It has been shown to give good results on a very wide range of types of wound, but there still appears to be a lack of universal acceptance of honey as a wound dressing. This being the case, it may be expected that in order to upgrade its use and anti-MRSA status, honey may require further specific research. The essential oils of plants are also an avenue of approach that has not received sufficient research or credibility. Back in 1995, following on from Australian Dr Lyall Williams earlier Tea tree oil research, another Australian researcher, Christine Carson, found that all 66 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus tested were susceptible to Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil products, and 33 mupirocin26-resitant.27 These results ‘in vitro’ were backed-up by comparable results obtained by co-workers in Britain using similar methods.28 Although it was concluded that Tea tree oil may be useful in the treatment of MRSA carriage,29 the use of Tea tree oil in hospital hygiene did not take off. It was another five years before Tea tree oil, which could have a clinical application both in the hospital and community, especially for clearance of MRSA carriage or as a hand disinfectant to prevent cross-infection (with Gram-positive and Gram-negative epidemic organisms), underwent a study based on ‘time-kill approach’ at St Thomas’s hospital, London, UK using two chemically different forms of Tea Tree oil.30 It was found that both tea tree oils had a rapid killing time (less than 60 minutes), but MRSA was killed more slowly than other organisms.31 The cloned variety ‘Clone 88’ extracted from a specially bred tree, selected and employed for increased activity and decreased skin irritation, had increased antimicrobial activity when compared with the standard oil.32 A year later, Japanese researchers examined tea tree oil and plaunotol. It was confirmed that tea tree oil was effective over a lower range of concentrations than previously reported. It appeared ‘in vitro’ to be very effective against MSSA (Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus) and MRSA at high concentrations, but less effective below 40 microg/ml. 33 Three years later, in a randomized, controlled British trial of tea tree topical preparations versus a standard topical regimen for the clearance of MRSA colonization, it was found that mupirocin was significantly more effective at clearing nasal carriage (78%) than tea tree cream (47%), but tea tree treatment was more effective than chlorhexidine34 or silver sulfadiazine35 at clearing superficial skin sites and skin lesions. It was concluded that tea tree preparations were effective, safe and well tolerated and could be considered in regimens for eradication of MRSA carriage.36 Later, March 2005, in a UK review entitled: ‘Is tea tree oil effective at eradicating MRSA colonization?’, which had been shown to be the case ‘in vitro’ in laboratory settings, concluded that currently there is insufficient evidence to support the routine use of tea tree oil in clinical practice for eradication of MRSA colonization. Subsequently, the benefits of tea tree oil have not officially been exploited for the betterment of the potential epidemic MRSA deadlock. Notwithstanding, it is not the end of the anti-MRSA natural essential oils and plant extracts story. In December 2005, UK researchers testing patchouli, tea tree, geranium, lavender essential oils and Citricidal (grapefruit seed extract), used singly and in combination, to assess their anti-bacterial activity against three strains of Staphylococcus aureus, the Oxford strain (Oxford S. aureus NCTC 6571), Epidemic MRSA (EMRSA 15) and MRSA (untypable) with controlled method. They discovered that a combination of Citricidal and geranium oil showed the greatest antibacterial effects against MRSA, whilst a combination of geranium and tea tree oil was most active against the MSSA (Oxford strain).38 The study demonstrated the potential of essential oils (and essential oil vapours) as antibacterial agents and for use in the treatment of MRSA infection. When MRSA is such a universal concern, what have they been waiting for all these years? (See also ‘MRSA – The Answer is Blowin’ in the Wind’ www.herbsphere.com Archived News Items) What we can do for ourselves – Wear Silver Pyjamas? Who knows, the next Pop mantra may be a revised version of an old chanted tune much favoured by kids and campers, which has been adulterated with many salacious verses added to it over time, but probably was originally about a new railroad line: ‘She’ll be wearing silver jamas when she comes …’39 Ah! ‘There’s many a true word is said in jest’, 40 but where MRSA is concerned there is ‘no time’ to jest. When it comes to MRSA eradication new innovations are serious business and immensely welcome. What’s in a name? The word and garment called ‘pyjamas’ may not have the sex appeal of say, ‘negligee’, but these special ‘silver pyjamas’ have enormous health éclat.41 Shakespeare got it right ‘That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet” (Romeo and Juliet II, ii, 1-2), when the public awaken to the marvellous benefits of wearing ‘silver pyjamas’ this bedroom attire will likely quickly accrue its very own precious ‘Wow’ factor. It is known from time immemorial that ‘silver’42 is bactericidal, even when they didn’t have the language to describe it as such. However, silver was mostly administered by physicians, and still is, or in other traditional modus operandi. What we have now is the opportunity to use a extraordinarily practical form of ‘self-defence’ by wearing special pyjamas, if or when we are likely to find ourselves exposed to MRSA invasion, e.g. whilst hospitalized. The press and public got wind of this beneficial fabric development and availability of the practical application of this material, which features a silver yarn woven into it, by it being made into ‘silver pyjamas’ made by ‘Toray’ textile factory in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, in October of last year.43 At that time the manufacturers claimed that research showed it was proven to kill more than 99% of bacteria.44 It was even then being used in curtains in wards at Great Ormond Street Hospital and in surgeons’ gowns and nurses’ uniforms in other hospitals.45 The technological use of the silver that is woven into the fabric works as the silver ionises when it is in the presence of bacteria. The ionisation process kills the bacteria that are there, on or near the fabric.46 “We have research which says if a person that happens to have MRSA touches the fabric and another person one hour later touches the fabric, they will not cross-contaminate from one person to another.”47 Additionally, the silver yarn also kills the growth of odour-producing bacteria.48 On the principle of ‘make the hospital environment a hostile one for infectious bacteria’, the textile company has developed a whole range of fabrics that can be used to counteract bacteria in nurse’s uniforms, cubicle curtains, bedding, doctors’ coats, surgeons gowns and drapes, as well as the all important pyjamas that, until hopefully they may become de rigeur, 49 the public can acquire for themselves. Right now, although how exactly Healthcare Acquired Infections are commuted to the patient is not certain, i.e. options being, touch, airborne and self-infection contributors, it would logically appear that self-infection is a strong bet. This aspect is being taken seriously into consideration by the manufacturer. For example, if a wound dressing is removed to be replaced with a fresh one, the billions of bacteria on our bodies have more than enough chances to infect the wound-site, predominantly from shedding skin. Silver pyjamas sanitise the skin, therefore significantly reduce or may cancel out the potential for ‘self-infection’. The background technology behind the Toray fabrics is a pure silver fibre called ‘X-Satic’, which has been used for over 20 years in various arenas, including sports (it is in the England football kit!), the military (the majority of all US military personnel have intimate attire made in conjunction with this yarn) - would that our military deployed in ‘hot spots’ with hotter climates had the same. The fibre is also used in wound-dressings (Johnson and Johnson’s ‘Silver-seal’ product used in hospitals worldwide), NASA (a shuttle astronaut has been pictured in an X-Static T-shit!)50; by no stretch of the imagination is this product an untried and untested Johnny-cum-lately. Currently, the company say that specific fabrics tested under laboratory conditions show that 99.9+% of MRSA micro-organisms are killed within one hour of contact with the fabric and a series of case studies within various hospitals to prove this is in-situ also. More research is underway, but if you are not avant garde enough to succumb to the allure of MRSA-fighting jamas now, you may have to wait a year or so for the ensuing research results. Historical Medicinal use of Silver Why the use of silver, when its bactericidal properties had been known for centuries, but after the advent of antibiotics whereby its use had been almost obliterated and looked almost forgotten for more than fifty years by the modern medical community? Well, it is following the pattern of the pharmaceutical industries’ rush to find new antibiotics and drugs from natural herbs and their essential oils, marine plants, and all other ancient remedies that may have applications for ‘cures’ of infections, contagions and diseases. During not only the past 2000 years, (‘silver’ is mentioned in the Bible’s book of Genesis), but for thousands of years silver has been used in medicine. Many civilizations have recognized the properties of silver in disease prevention. Indeed, slag heaps found in Asia Minor and on the islands of the Aegean Sea indicate that silver was being separated from lead as early as the 4th millennium BC.51 The use of silver was mentioned in ancient Egyptian writings.52 The bactericidal efficacy of silver was known to the Greeks and Romans, and also used in Phoenicia and Macedonia as a healing tool to fight and control infections and spoilage. Hippocrates (460BC-377BC), taught that silver healed wounds and c.400BC he listed it as a singular treatment for ulcers “the flowers of silver alone, in the finest powder.”53 Herodotus (b.484BC ca. 425BC) the Greek historian described how the King of Persia carried boiled water in silver flagons to prevent sickness.54 Roman silver-lined containers were used to store liquids and against other spoilage, e.g. wine was stored in silver urns. The Phoenicians are documented as storing water, wine and vinegar in silver bottles to prevent spoiling. Well in advance of the advent of modern germicides and antibiotics it was recognized that disease-causing pathogens could not survive in the presence of silver. This practical use of the ‘protective’ element was later used in dishware, drinking vessels of the wealthy and eating utensils; a familiar example is the Christian Church Holy Communion wine chalice being passed from mouth to mouth with a cursory wipe! Chinese Emperors and their courts ate with silver chopsticks.55 In Europe, in the Middle Ages silverware protected the wealthy to an extent from the Plague.56 Early settlers in America put a silver dollar in their water-butts against bacteria and algae; they also used it for milk to keep it from turning. Later still, Australian outback settlers suspended silverware in their water tanks to keep their dinking water in good shape.57 Silver nitrate was described in the contemporary Roman pharmacopoeia in 69BC, 58 which the Romans used therapeutically. Silver for wounds management emerged early on, Pliny the Elder (23/24-79AD) stipulated that the slag of silver “… has healing properties as an ingredient in plasters, being extremely effective in causing wounds to close up …”.59 The hermetic and alchemical writings of Paracelsus (c.1520) spoke of the virtues of silver as a healing substance60 and used it medicine. You name them, Caradanus, Pareus61 and Sala,62 the ancients and greats all knew about the healing properties and efficacy of silver. The popularity of medicinal silver is said to have especially arisen from 701AD through 980AD throughout the Middle East, where it was widely esteemed for use in blood purification, heart conditions and controlling halitosis and much more.63 During the Napoleonic wars (1792-1815), the armies of Tsar Alexander used water casks lined with silver to cleanse water taken from rivers and streams. This historical lesson was still in common practice throughout World War I and continued in the Soviet Army during World War II.64 In the early 1800s, doctors used silver sutures in surgical wounds with successful results and silver leaf was employed to combat troops infected wounds during World War I.65 In Ayurvedic medicine, silver is used in small amounts as a tonic or rejuvenator for the old, debilitated and diseased.66 In Chinese TM (Traditional Medicine), such as the art and science of diagnosis and healing of diseases includes the use of thin silver or gold metallic needles or pins to pierce the skin since 500-300BC, known nowadays as acupuncture.67 Interestingly, the Druids of the British Isles left evidence of their use of silver; they harvested holy mistletoe and oak leaves with finely engraved and enchanted sickles, the shape of which is representative of the crescent moon on Earth.67A However, mystical or otherworldly this may seem, in recent years mistletoe (Viscum album) has been used for cancer treatments.67B Most recently in a Russian randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicentre clinical trial the use of silver was found to improve the ‘quality of life’ in breast cancer patients during chemotherapy and follow-up. It would make good sense therefore to use a silver implement to ensure against contamination of the harvested fruits. The druids also used ‘a bell branch’ in rituals that was traditionally a silver tree branch with gold bells attached to it, the sounds of which were used for spiritual cleansing and protective purposes.67C There’s a complex and vast amount of literature regarding the medicinal use of silver during the past couple of hundred of years, but suffice it to say that in the late 1800’s there was a ‘re-discovery’ of silver, and medicinal silver compounds were then developed and commonly used. In the early part of the 1900’s the bactericidal use of silver was widespread. By 1940 there were some 48 different silver compounds in use on the market to treat all known infectious diseases, 68 and these were available in oral, injectible and topical forms. The one drawback argyria, 69 caused by inappropriate and over-use of silver, was probably first recorded in 980AD when Persian physician Avicenna (973-1037AD) used silver filings as a blood purifier, for offensive breath, and for palpitations of the heart. In his pathology text he describes a patient (case) with bluish discoloration of the eyes associated with the ingestion of silver or what is now termed argyrosis.69 & 70 The condition of argyria has been said to be due to the use of certain types of protein-bound silver compounds causing the condition, which is believed to be permanent. Even back in 1918, it was reported in the Lancet that a preparation of colloidal silver71 was “used intravenously … without any irritation of the kidneys and with no pigmentation of the skin.” (T.H. Anderson Wells). Most recent cases of argyria are due to the over consumption of home-made colloidal silver as an alternative medicine. (See Comment). Modern Use of Medicinal Silver There’s nothing hazily historical or old-fashioned about the use of silver in medicine. In more recent times, we know that silver has been put to good and successful medicinal work. In 1987 it was found that the silver-coated fibre, known as ‘X-static’, used in experiments was bactericidal when bacteria were exposed to it directly or to an extract derived from its prior incubation in salt solution.72 Five years later, London based scientists found in ‘time-kill experiments’ comparison of the ‘in vitro’ activities of the topical antimicrobials azelaic acid, nitrofurazone, silver sulphadiazine and mupirocin against MRSA, resulted in azelaic acid and nitrofurazone being gradually bactericidal, but silver sulphadiazine was rapidly bactericidal and mupirocin was not bactericidal!73 In 2004, Croatian researchers moved with silver into the realms of Nanotechnology and were working on a case study of E. coli as a model for Gram-negative bacteria.74 When as recently as 30th June 2006 a school has been shut-down, (Hayes Primary in Bromley, in South-East London), in an effort to avoid a more serious outbreak, with one E. coli case confirmed, two pending, 19 children unwell and one staff member also suffering gastrointestinal symptoms, the real value of silver for medicine becomes clear.74A The year before, Chinese scientists had also been looking to compare the antibacterial activity on oral pathogens among six types of nano-silver base inorganic antibacterial agents for possible use in dental antibacterial materials.75 Use of silver for wound management has kept moving forward. In Bulgaria, (1991), the use of Dermazin, a 1% silver sulphdiazin crčme made in Yugoslavia, was compared with the 0.5% silver nitrate solution used to date. Dermazin was found to have the advantages of penetrating better in the wound; to be a more convenient form for local application; better tolerated by patients; did not stain skin and bedspread; caused no electrolyte disturbances, and had a strong bactericidal effect against most common gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. 76 Whilst a review on silver in January of this year debates various points that it is felt require more research and clarity,77 in an experiment the same month, in Hong Kong, a range of silver-coated or silver-impregnated dressings commercially available for use were evaluated for their antimicrobial efficacies. Five silver coated/impregnated dressings were compared against nine common burn-wound pathogens and the rapidity and extent of ‘kill’ under ‘in vitro’ conditions.78 All five silver-impregnated dressings exerted bactericidal activity, particularly against Gram-negative bacteria; brand named ‘Acticoat’ and ‘ Contreet’ had a broad spectrum of bactericidal activities against both Gram-positive and –negative bacteria. It was concluded that understanding the character of these dressings may enable them to be targeted more appropriately according to the specific requirements for use of a particular dressing, as in for prophylaxis in skin grafting or for an infected wound with MRSA, so progress is in train.79 Burn dressings for the hand can be more difficult to manage. The good news is, that the silver impregnated Acticoat dressing (Smith & Nephew, UK) which is well documented for its sustained bactericidal activity, reduction of inflammation and ability to promote healing, has come up with a custom made Acticoat glove.80 It provides a thin, light dressing covering the hands and allowing full mobilisation of the wrist and finger joints that is necessary for the ability to splint and perform hand therapy on the injured limb. Silver is definitely in research focus in the past two decades. Around the world new uses and applications for the use of bactericidal silver are being innovated continuously e.g. for venous catheters, 81 bactericidal tracheal tubes in Intensive Care medicine, 82 in an artificial matrix for wound healing &c., 83 all of which adds confidence to the potential of wearing anti-MRSA silver pyjamas. Silver has a lot else going for it environmentally. Currently, silver water purification filters made in Switzerland are used in Swiss homes and offices, and Swiss manufactured tablets are used by many national and international airlines to prevent growth of algae and bacteria.84 The former Soviet Union used silver to sterilize recycled water on their space vehicles.85 The Japanese use silver as a popular agent to fight against airborne toxins, as well as other industrial poisons, in the work place.86 Plus, some American municipalities use silver in treatment of sewage.87 After the recent pollution disasters in Chinese rivers, including the Yangtze, silver may qualify for a robust resurgent interest in its environmental applications big time, especially within the realms of ‘clean drinking water’.88 For the powers that be may now be fighting over ‘black oil’, instead of using the money, diminishing time, and efforts to get renewable energy power such as under-sea Tidal Wave Power on track, but it is likely in the not too distant future ‘water’ will become the biggest issue for the Western world too. If you have an old real Silver Dollar lying in a draw somewhere, hang on to it; it may be the best bit of currency you ever had to help keep your future drinking water clean.89 COMMENT Although many persons use, have used and swear by Colloidal Silver, and they do not ‘abuse’ it any more than they would take prescribed drugs daily instead of for a specific illness over a reasonable prescribed period of time, it should be noted that the USA Federal Drug Agency has been dealing with the colloidal silver controversy and “ … issued a Final Rule declaring that all over-the-counter (OTC) drug products containing colloidal silver or silver salts are not recognized as safe and effective and are misbranded. In accordance with the Final Rule, a colloidal silver product for any drug use will first have to be approved by FDA under the new drug application procedures. The Final rule classifies colloidal silver products as misbranded because adequate directions cannot be written so that the general public can use these drugs safely for these intended purposes. They are also misbranded when their labelling falsely suggests that there is substantial scientific evidence to establish that the drugs are safe and effective for their intended uses. The Final Rule became effective on 16th September, 1999. (FDA TALK PAPER 17th August, 1999).” 90 Part of the problem appears to be that, although the adverse effects of silver exposure have been known to man for almost ten centuries, the dosage necessary to produce argyria is still not completely understood. It is as well to read ‘Systemic argyria associated with ingestion of colloidal silver’ with quoted research papers - http://dermatology.cdlib.org/111/case_reports/argyria/wadhera.html. Remember that no alternative or natural medicine should be taken without informing your official health-carer. However, it is also well to remember that as overuse of antibiotics with their researched and accruing side-effects results, including the production and development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, that the resurgence of silver in medicine is no bad thing. When it comes to argyria, as the saying goes: ‘There’s always one’! It is to be hoped that the scientific community will be sufficiently funded to look into ‘silver’ in medicine and produce clearer guidelines with a will to concentrate on the remedial administration of silver medicine for the greater good. References: 1. MRSA (source: DoH A simple guide to MRSA, http://www,dh.gov.uk 2. MRSA – Foogle Biz - http://www.thesahara.net/mrsa.htm 3. MRSA (source: DoH A simple guide to MRSA, http://www.dh.gov.uk 4. Ibid 5. Ibid 5A. MRSA Deaths up by nearly quarter – The Operating Theatre Journal. 23rd February 2006 from The Office of National Statistics. 6. Ibid 7. Ibid 7A. ‘MRSA ‘out of control and getting stronger’ by Emily Cook, Health Reporter, Daily Mail 21st June 2006. 7B. Ibid 7C. Ibid 7D. Ibid 7E. Ibid – ‘Up to 53 million people carry MRSA, research says’ Reuters 21st June 2006. 7F. Ibid – ‘World-wide antibiotic resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.’ Maple PA, et al. Department of Medical Microbiology, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London. Lancet 1989 Mar 11; 1(8637):537-40. ‘Re-emergence of early pandemic Staphylococcus aureus as a community-acquired meticillin-resistant clone.’ Robinson DA, et al. Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, UK. Lancet 2005 Apr 2-8; 365(9466):1256-8. 8. ‘11p. kitchen sponges may hold clue to beating MRSA’ by Louise Gray - The Scotsman 27th December 2005. http://news.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=2461772005 9. ‘Seaweed Contains Natural Antibiotic’ 6.6.2003 http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=37999-seaweed-contains-natural re: Seaweeds 19th May issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 10. Ibid. Quote: Julia Kubanek, assistant Professor of Biology and Chemistry the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta USA. 11. Ibid. Quote: co-author Paul Jensen – And ‘Seaweed yields new compounds with pharmaceutical potential’ - Online ‘The All I Need’ website: http://www.theallineed.com/biology/06011619.htm 12. ‘History and characteristics of Okinawan longevity food.’ Sho H. University of The Air Okinawa Study Center, Japan. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2001; 10(2):159-64. 13. Ibid 14. Ibid 15. ‘Implications from and for food cultures for cardiovascular diseases: Japanese food, particularly Okinawan diets.’ Yamori Y, et al. WHO Collaborating Centre for Research on Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Japan. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2001; 10(2):144-5. ‘Geographical distribution of cerebro-vascular disease mortality and food intakes in Japan.’ Omura T, et al. Soc Sci Med. 1987; 24(5):401-7. 16. Sushi: Cold cooked rice dressed with vinegar that is shaped into bite-sized pieces and topped with raw of cooked fish, or formed into a roll with fish, egg, or vegetables and wrapped in seaweed. 17. MRSA Decontamination – ProntodermO - http://www.countrydoctor.co.uk/precis/precis%20-%20MRSA%20decontamination.htm 18. Ibid 19. ‘Healing of an MRSA-colonized, hydroxyurea-induced leg ulcer with honey.’ Natarajan S, et al. Wound Healing Research Unit, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK. J Dermatolog Treat. 2001 Mar; 12(1):33-6.
20.
‘Bactericidal activity of
different honeys against pathogenic bacteria.’ 21. Manuka honey: Bees gather pollen from the flowers of the Manuka Bush, which is indigenous to New Zealand. Certain types of Manuka Honey which are produced have been observed to have some very special properties. It is used as a natural product both internally and topically on the skin. Apitherpay, the name given to treatment with natural honey, has been used by many different cultures throughout history, which uses are now being reconsidered by modern medicine in the light of new research into its properties and uses. http://www.manukahoney.co.uk/ 22. ‘The Evidence Supporting the Use of Honey as a Wound Dressing’ PC Molan, BSc, PhD. Dept. of Biological Sciences, Uv. of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Internatinal Journal of Lower Exgtremity Wounds, Vol. 5, No. 1, 40-54 (2006) – A review. 23. Ibid 24. Ibid 25. Ibid 26. Mupirocin: An antibiotic that is produced by the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens and inhibits protein synthesis by streptococcal and staphylococcal bacteria. It is used locally in the treatment of bacterial skin infections, such as impetigo. 27. ‘Susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia.’ Carson CF, et al. Department of Microbiology, University of Western Australia, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, Australia. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1995 Mar; 35(3):421-4. 28. Ibid 29. Ibid 30. ‘Time-kill studies of tea tree oils on clinical isolates.’ May J, et al. Microbiology Department, St Thomas' Hospital, London SE1 7EH, UK. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2000 May; 45(5):639-43. Gram-positive bacteria are those that are stained dark blue or violet by Gram staining, in contrast to Gram-negative bacteria, which cannot retain the stain, instead taking up the counter stain and appearing red or pink. The group includes many well-known genera such as Bacillus, Listeria, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, and Clostridium. This has been expanded to include the Mollicutes, bactia like Mycoplasma that lack cell walls and so cannot be stained by Gram, but are derived from such forms. 31. Ibid 32. Ibid 33. ‘Comparison of the effects in vitro of tea tree oil and plaunotol on methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus.’ Hada T, et al. Department of Microbiology, Showa Pharmaceutical University, Machida, Tokyo, Japan. Microbios. 2001; 106 Suppl 2:133-41. Plaunotol: The active ingredient of a commercial drug ‘Kelnac’, which is a mucosal protective factor-enhancing anti-ulcer agent. It was originally found in the leaves of Croton Sublyratus Kurz. (Thai name: Palunoi, Eurphorbiaceae), a tropical plant distributed throughout Southeast Asia. 34. Chlorhexidine: Chlorhedine glucontate is a chemical antiseptic, to combat both gram positive and gram negative microbes. It is both bacteriostatic and bacteriocidal. Bacteriostatic antibiotics inhibit growth and reproduction of the bacteria; though do not kill it, while bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria. 35. Silver sulfadiazine: is a topical antibacterial used primarily on second- and third-degree burns. 36. ‘A randomized, controlled trial of tea tree topical preparations versus a standard topical regimen for the clearance of MRSA colonization.’ Dryden MS, et al. Department of Microbiology and Communicable Disease, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Romsey Road, Winchester, Hampshire SO22 5DG, UK. J Hosp Infect. 2004 Apr; 56(4):283-6. 37. ‘Is tea tree oil effective at eradicating MRSA colonization? A review.’ Flaxman D, Griffiths P. Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, Kent. Br J Community Nurs. 2005 Mar; 10(3):123-6. 38. ‘The effect of essential oils on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus using a dressing model.’ Edwards-Jones V, et al. Department of Biological Sciences, the Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester, M15GD, UK. Burns. 2004 Dec; 30(8):772-7. 39. Song: ‘She’ll be Coming Round he Mountain’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/tweenies/songtime/songs/s/shellbecoming.shtml 40. Quote: T.C. Haliburton, Sam Slick’s Wise Saws (1853). “The rapid rise to prominence in the public life of nova Scotia by Thomas Chandler Haliburton (1796-1865) was not unexpected. In 1819 he was called to the bar. Yet the liberal Tory in Haliburton was deeply frustrated. The strict code of conduct imposed on him as a member of the conservative ruling elite did not allow him to express his strongly held progressive views. Since he and his family would suffer serious repercussions to their personal welfare if he challenged the established ruling elite directly, Haliburton decided to anonymously create a fictional character to act as his mouthpiece. And so Sam Slick came into being. Haliburton is best known as the creator of Sam Slick, the most popular comic figure in 19th-century English literature. His contributions to literature were recognized in 1858 by Oxford University when Haliburton was the first colonial writer to be awarded an honorary degree in literature. http://www.library.dal.ca/duasc/spcoll/haliburton.htm 41. éclat: great brilliance, as of performance or achievement; conspicuous success; great acclamation or applause. 42. Silver: (from Anglo-Saxon seolfor, Old High German silabar); Symbol Ag (from the traditional abbreviation for the Latin argentum), is a chemical element. 43. ‘Anti-MRSA silver fabric trialled’ BBC News Online 5th October 2005. 44. Ibid 45. Ibid 46. Ibid 47. Ibid. Quote: Simon Burnett-Boothroyd, Sales Manager, ‘Toray Textiles Europe Ltd.’ (See also: “MRSA and silver – Precious Metals Technology Aids Health Care – New Fabric Recognized to Kill MRSA” - Country Doctor) http://www.countrydoctor.co.uk/education/Education%20-%20MRSA%20and%20silver.htm & Toray Textiles Europe Ltd - http://www.seeitsafe.co.uk/ 48. “Innovative Fabric Set to Beat the Superbug’ 31st March, 2006 - http://www.englandseastmidlands.com/News.aspx?ID=123 49. de rigeur: right and proper. 50. From Mark Andrews, Business Group Leader, Toray Textiles Europe Ltd 51. Silver: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver 52. ’A Brief History of The Health Support Uses of Silver’ - http://www.silver-colloids.com/Pubs/history-silver.html 53. ‘Historic Perspectives on Clinical Use and Efficacy of Silver’ Eric J Renz D.O., Diplomat National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners; AOA Board Certified: Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. http://www.oligodynamic.com/history.html 54. Ibid: (Pliny the Elder: “Natural History – Naturalis Hisotria” (78AD), Book XXXIII, Section XXXV.) 55. ’A Brief History of The Health Support Uses of Silver’ - http://www.silver-colloids.com/Pubs/history-silver.html 56. Ibid 57. Ibid 58. ‘Historic Perspectives on Clinical Use and Efficacy of Silver’ Eric J Renz D.O. Ibid 59. ‘History of Silver in Medicine and Wound Dressings’ - http://www.silverlon.com/history.html 60. Dr David Pareus (1548-1622): A German protestant and reformer and controversial figure of his period. 61. Angelo Sala, better known as Angelus Sala: (b. c.1576-d.2.10.1637) was a physician and scientist. He published 19 scientific works in German, French, Italian and Latin. 62. ‘Historic Perspectives on Clinical Use and Efficacy of Silver’ Eric J Renz D.O., 63. Ibid 64. Ibid 65. ’A Brief History of The Health Support Uses of Silver’ 66. Ibid 67. Acupuncture - http://musclejointnerve.com/traditional.html 67A. ‘Silver’ by Alan Shaw, Codexis – Chemical & engineering News - http://pubs.acs.org/cen/80th/silver.html 67B. Druidism Guide Page Two: Custom - http://www.wildideas.net/cathbad/pagan/dr-guide2.html ‘Quality of life is improved in breast cancer patients by Standardised Mistletoe Extract PS76A2 during chemotherapy and follow-up: a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicentre clinical trial.’ Semiglazov VF, et al. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology, St. Petersburg, Russia. Anticancer Res. 2006 Mar-Apr; 26(2B):1519-29. 67C. Druidism Guide Page Two: Custom - http://www.wildideas.net/cathbad/pagan/dr-guide2.html 68. ’A Brief History of The Health Support Uses of Silver’ – ‘Silver Re-Discovered’. 69. Argyria: Deposition of silver salts in the skin from excessive oral intake. Signs: permanent blue to bronze discoloration of the skin and mucosa that is darker in regions exposed to light. It is a disease caused by the ingestion of elemental silver, silver dust or compounds and therefore may be an occupational hazard e.g. for jewellers. Argyria may be found as generalized argyria or local argyria. Argyrosis: is the corresponding condition related to the eye. 70. ‘Systemic argyria associated with ingestion of colloidal silver’ Akil Wadhera MD and Max Fung MD, Department of Dermatology, Uv. of California Davis, USA, Dermatology Online Journal, 11(2): 12 - http://dermatology.cdlib.org/111/case_reports/argyria/wadhera.html 71. Colloidal Silver: is defined as a very small particle of silver. 01-005 microns in diameter (four hundred thousandths to twenty millionths of an inch), suspended in a different medium, such as a solid in a liquid. Today, it is most commonly produced by passing an electrical current over a couple of silver electrodes immersed in water. This creates microscopic particles of pure elemental silver held in suspension in water by an ionic bond. Because of the small particle size and electrical charge, the particles repel each other and thus theoretically stay suspended in the water indefinitely and do not settle out. (From: Is silver an antibiotic alternative? By Scarlett Crawford - Issue #1 August 2003 “ACRIMONY” - http://www.acrimony.org/article_power_of_silver.php 72. ‘Silver-coated nylon fiber as an antibacterial agent.’ MacKeen PC, et al. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1987 Jan; 31(1):93-9. 73. ‘Comparison of the in-vitro activities of the topical antimicrobials azelaic acid, nitrofurazone, silver sulphadiazine and mupirocin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.’ Maple PA, Hamilton-Miller, Brumfitt W. Department of Medical Microbiology, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, Hampstead, London, UK. J Antimicorb Chemother. 1992 Jun; 29(6):661-8. 74. ‘Silver nanoparticles as antimicrobial agent: a case study on E. coli as a model for Gram-negative bacteria.’ Sondi I, Salopek-Sondi B. Center for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia. J Colloid Interface Sci. 2004 Jul 1; 275(1):177-82. 74A. ‘School Shuts in E. coli outbreak’ BBC News Online, 30th June 2006. 75. ‘[Comparison of the antibacterial activity on oral pathogens among six types of nano-silver base inorganic antibacterial agents]’ [Article in Chinese] She WJ, Zhang FQ. Department of Prosthodontics, School of Stomatology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200011, China. Shanghai Kou Qiang Yi Xue 2003 Oct; 12(5):356-8. 76. [The treatment of burn wounds with silver sulfadiazine] [Article in Bulgarian]Vuglenova E. Khirurgiia (Sofia). 1991; 44(3):53-7. 77. ‘A discussion of silver as an antimicrobial agent: alleviating the confusion.’ Brett DW. Smith and Nephew Wound Management Division, 11775 Starkey Road, Largo, FL 33773, USA. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2006 Jan; 52(1):34-41. 78. ‘Antimicrobial activities of silver dressings: an in vitro comparison.’ Ip M, et al. Department of Microbiology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong. J Med Microbiol. 2006 Jan; 55(Pt 1):59-63. 79. Ibid 80. ‘The Acticoat glove-an effective dressing for the completely burnt hand: how we do it.’ Kok K, et al. Department of Plastic Surgery, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham B29 6JD, UK. Burns. 2006 Jun; 32(4):487-9. Epub 2006 Apr 18. 81. In vitro evaluation of the antibacterial activity of three different central venous catheters against gram-positive bacteria.’ Yorganci K, et al. G.M.K. Bulvari 129/9 Koz Apt., 06530 Maltepe, Ankara, Turkey. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2002 May; 21(5):379-84. Epub 82. ‘Antibacterial-coated tracheal tubes cleaned with the Mucus Shaver: A novel method to retain long-term bactericidal activity of coated tracheal tubes.’ Berra L, et al. Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Intensive Care Med. 2006 Jun; 32(6):888-93. Epub 2006 Apr 83. ‘Antimicrobial activities of silver used as a polymerization catalyst for a wound-healing matrix.’ Babu R, et al. Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, 3550 Terrace Street, Scaife Hall, S-713 Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. Biomaterials. 2006 Aug; 27(24):4304-14. Epub 2006 Apr 24. 84. ’A Brief History of The Health Support Uses of Silver’ - http://www.silver-colloids.com/Pubs/history-silver.html 85. Ibid 86. Ibid 87. Ibid 88. [The effect of electrochemical silver on the microbiological qualities of drinking water] [Article in Bulgarian] Metodiev V, Bozlulova N. Probl Khig. 1990; 15:26-30. 89. NB: Silver Coins: In 1965 U.S. dimes and quarters stopped being made out of silver, thus ending the era of U.S. specie money. (U.S. half dollar coins are still made partially out of silver through 1970, but most of their bulk is now taken up by a thick layer of copper. 90. Is silver an antibiotic alternative? By Scarlett Crawford - Issue #1 August 2003 “ACRIMONY” - http://www.acrimony.org/article_power_of_silver.php |
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