(Thanks, D. :)

Reader Douglas writes:

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Re: NH365: 'Common antibiotic could lead to fa....

Hobie,

Thanks for posting this article. Macrolides are made from Saccharopolyspora erythraea, a type of soil-borne bacteria. While erythromycin was the first "discovered" in this class it was of use in penicillin resistant bacteria. In those folks who are sensitive to the macrolides, the physiological consequences result in fluids infiltrating between the myofibrils of the heart, weakening the integrity of the muscle, resulting congestive heart failure, and unfortunately for some, a fatal heart "attack."

But this problem has been in the medical literature for years, but for conventional physicians the "Z-Pack" is still their DOC for infections. For some people, this effect upon the heart happens quite rapidly and is commonly called "irreversible" from a conventional point of view. Untrue, of course, but repair of the heart takes time, months to years.

Clearly, antibiotics are a double edged sword, but physicians will always recommended them when there is life to be saved. Perhaps it is not unreasonable that those in the situation of needing antibiotics suggest to their physicians to consider if the results of the culture and sensitivity indicate that the bacterium may be treated effectively by another class of antibiotic.

Douglas.

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