There
are countless bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other germs and microbes that
cause infection in the human body. Infection was a leading cause of death
in humans before the discovery of
antibiotics, antiviral medicines,
antifungal medicines, and other drugs.
Infection control through better hygiene and sanitation has made an
enormous influence in limiting the rate of death in economically
advanced countries.
There are thousands of types of infections that can
occur in the human body and we are fortunate to be living in modern times when
scientists have discovered powerful antibiotics that cure or treat these
conditions. Herbal remedies are quite weak compared to these potent antibiotics.
Natural herbal remedies including natural herbs, vitamins, and dietary supplements
The following are some herbs and extracts that are helpful in reducing the risk. See ways to naturally improve your immune system. There are more herbal remedies and with time I will add others to the list and provide more details:
Garlic has potent
antimicrobial activity, it can be helpful for tooth abscesses until professional
dental evaluation is done. Since allicin is a gas, it may permeate a wide
variety of tissues that do not have a good blood supply.
Indian J Dentistry. 2014. Evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of
garlic, tea tree oil, cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine, and ultraviolet
sanitizing device in the decontamination of toothbrush. The antimicrobial agents
used in this study effectively reduced the S. mutans counts and hence can be
considered as toothbrush disinfectants to prevent dental caries. The 3% garlic
was the most effective among the antimicrobial agents.
Iran Red Crescent Medical J. 2014. Comparing the therapeutic effects of
garlic tablet and oral metronidazole on bacterial vaginosis: a randomized
controlled clinical trial. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is one of the most common
gynecological infections during reproductive age. Although metronidazole is one
of the most effective medications recommended as the first-line treatment, it
has various side effects. Because of the side effects and contraindications of
some chemical medicines, using herbs has been investigated in treating BV. The
aim of this study was to compare the effect of garlic tablet (Garsin) and oral
metronidazole in clinical treatment of the BV in women who were treated with
either garlic tablet or oral metronidazole for seven days. Therapeutic effects
of garlic on BV were similar to that of metronidazole. There were significant differences between the two
treatment groups in terms of side effects; metronidazole was associated with
more complications. This study reveals that garlic could be a suitable
alternative for metronidazole in treatment of BV in those interested in herbal
medicines or those affected by side effects of metronidazole.
Grape seed
extract has been studied
Olive leaf extract has
been researched
Oregano oil potent
activity
Probiotics such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria can colonize the intestinal
system and reduce the risk of germ invasion and overgrowth
Can taking probiotics reduce the risk for bacterial
infection?
It is possible that probiotic supplement use could
reduce the risk for intestinal or vaginal bacterial infection frequency or
severity.
The top five
bugs that cause infections in the United States
The top five illness-causing pathogens are Campylobacter, Salmonella, Listeria
monocytogenes, Toxoplasma gondii and norovirus
How to reduce your risk for
Infection
Do you have a weak immune system and worried about catching a
viral or bacterial infection? Go ahead and touch those doorknobs and elevator
buttons, but watch out for the telephone, fresh laundry and sinks. And while you
should always wash your hands before making a meal, many people do not realize
that they should do so afterwards also. "Most of the common infections -- colds,
flu, diarrhea -- are environmentally transmitted either in the air or on
surfaces you touch. Computer keyboards carry far more bacteria than an elevator
button, the handles and button on the communal microwave oven or the office
water fountain. Keyboards and telephones -- especially when they are shared --
are among the most germ-laden places in a home or office. In fact, the average
desk harbors 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat. Perhaps not
surprisingly, teachers have the highest exposure to bacteria and viruses. Even
though germs are present everywhere, most people with a good immune system need
not worry about a viral or bacterial infection.
The growth of whatever bacteria are present can be used
to estimate an overall load of germs, including E. coli bacteria -- which are
found in the gut and are an indicator of fecal contamination. Some other
bacteria usually present are Klebsiella pneumonia, Streptococcus, Salmonella and
Staphylococcus aureus, some of which cause disease and some of which do not. And
where there are bacteria, there can be viruses, which can hang onto a clean or
dry surface for days and to a wet surface for weeks. Toilets get a bad rap. So
does the door on the way out. Bathroom sinks, however, are another matter. Sinks
are usually high (in bacterial counts) to begin with. They have got
everything a bacteria likes. It's wet, it's moist. In a home we usually find
more E. coli in a sink than a toilet. Men's rooms, too. Usually the dirtiest
handles in public restrooms are urinal flush handles.
Food preparation is another good way to
get an infection, particularly a bacterial infection, especially when handling raw meat. Most people don't realize
that they actually should wash their hands after they make dinner and also after
they do the laundry. Americans have moved to short-cycle, cold-water washes to
save energy and wear and tear on clothing, but this leaves viruses and bacteria
largely intact. "Water at 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) will sanitize laundry.
But only 5 percent of Americans use hot water for laundry. And viruses such as
hepatitis A, rotavirus and bacteria such as Salmonella -- all of which cause
stomach upsets and diarrhea -- can easily survive the average 28-minute drying
cycle. These are all carried fecally. There is about a 10th of a gram of feces
in the average pair of underwear.
Washing hands to reduce infection
risk
Washing hands with plain soap and water is as effective as using the
expanding range of sanitizers or antibacterial soaps if done correctly and
often. Dr Anthony Komaroff, editor of the Harvard Health Letter, said studies
have shown that washing hands with soap and water for just 15 seconds removes 90
percent of bacteria. Anthony Komaroff says the latest alcohol-based gels sold as
hand sanitizers can be a useful alternative to soap and water but people often
underestimate how much they need to do the job. Several squirts may be required
and the whole hand, including the back, needs to be cleaned. Commonly found
restroom germs include
noroviruses,
shigella, hepatitis A
and Salmonella.
To get rid of germs on your hands, you should make sure you're washing properly. Get your hands completely wet, then squirt enough soap to cover the entire surface of your hands.Rub your hands together palm to palm, then rub palms over the backs of the opposite hands.
Bed bugs
The resurgence of bed bugs has been linked to increased domestic and
international travel, a lack of societal awareness, a change in pesticide use
patterns, and increasing bed bug resistance to common pesticides.
Avoiding infection from pets, dogs, cats
Always wash hands with soap and warm water after handling pet food, pet toys
or touching pets. Don't allow young children to touch pet food or bowls. Make
sure pet food packaging is intact. Never feed pets raw food. Store pet food away
from human food. Refrigerate unused moist pet food. Regularly wash your pet's
food bowl and water bowl. Promptly dispose of pet waste. Then wash hands
thoroughly.
Pets can transfer infections to humans, especially young children, seniors, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems. All pets can transmit diseases to people, including salmonella, drug-resistant bacteria, campylobacter, and parasitic diseases such as hookworm, roundworm and toxoplasmosis. The infections can be transmitted through bites, scratches, saliva and contact with feces. Reptiles and amphibians can transmit diseases indirectly, such as on contaminated surfaces.
Microwave the sponge
Two minutes in a microwave oven can sterilize most household sponges. A team of
engineering researchers at the University of Florida found that two minutes of
microwaving on full power killed or inactivated more than 99 percent of
bacteria, viruses or parasites, as well as spores, on a kitchen sponge. "People
often put their sponges and scrubbers in the dishwasher, but if they really want
to decontaminate them and not just clean them, they should use the microwave,"
said Gabriel Bitton, a professor of environmental engineering who led the
study.The day after the news release came out regarding the germ-killing benefit
of microwaving, reports came to news stations that people who tried it at home
had problems with the sponge burning and ruining their microwave. Apparently the
researchers failed to mention that the sponge has to be wet before it is placed
in the microwave.Comments: I actually placed a semi wet sponge in the microwave
for 2 minutes and it survived.... hopefully the germs were not as lucky.
Infections in health care workers
Health care workers are more likely to die from bloodborne infections and
related illnesses than people working in other occupations. American Journal of
Industrial Medicine, November 2008.
Hospital concerns
Pneumonia and blood-borne infections caught in hospital killed 48,000 patients
and cost $8.1 billion in 2006. Measures to prevent infection are simple and
include careful hand washing, hygiene and screening patients when they check in.
However, these measures are difficult to enforce, many studies have found. It is
preferable to have the windows open in the room rather than closed since keeping
them open reduces the risk for airborne infectious bugs to concentrate.
On any given day, some 80,000 patients in Europe are fighting an
infection they picked up in hospital, often while in intensive care, the EU's
disease monitoring agency said in a survey published in 2013.
Pets, cats, dogs
Seemingly healthy pets can carry parasites, bacteria or viruses that cause mild
to life-threatening illness in people. Of the 250 zoonotic diseases --
infections transmitted between animals and people -- more than 100 are derived
from domestic pets.
Cat bites may look less serious than dog bites, but they can cause dangerous infections, particularly when they involve the hand. Although cats have no more germs in their mouths than dogs or people, when cats bite, their sharp teeth can inject hard-to-treat bacteria deeply into the skin and joints, increasing the risk for serious infection.
Yeast infection
Candida species, in particular Candida albicans, represent
a major threat to immunocompromised patients. Able to exist on mucosal surfaces
of healthy individuals, these opportunistic fungi frequently cause superficial
infections of mucosa and skin. Yeast
infection symptom cause of yeast infection.
Urinary tract infection - bladder
Urinary tract infections, mostly bacterial, are relatively common in
children and are a common cause of fever with absence of other urinary symptoms.
It is prudent that pediatricians and urologists perform a correct diagnosis to
prevent long-term complications of urinary tract infections, particularly renal
scaring. Treatment strategies depend on various factors particularly the child's
age and severity of illness. Specifications of antibiotics to be used also
depend on the age of the patient and the spectrum of the antibiotic, based on
the prevalence of organisms at certain ages and in certain situations. Low dose
antibiotic prophylaxis, an important aspect of therapy for urinary tract
infections in childhood, may be needed in chronic urinary tract infections. The
goal of therapy should always be directed to prevention of renal scaring and its
complications including hypertension and renal functional deterioration.
Sinus infection symptom and treatment
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses and
nasal passages. A sinus infection symptom can include headache or pressure in
the eyes, nose, cheek area, or on one side of the head. A person with a sinus
infection may also have a cough, a fever, bad breath, and nasal congestion with
thick nasal secretions. Sinusitis is categorized as acute (sudden onset) or
chronic (long term, the most common type).
Ear infection or inner ear
Otitis media, is extremely common in children and
one of the most common reasons parents take their child to see the pediatrician.
An ear infection could be due to a virus or it could be a bacterial infection. Doctors are quite trigger happy in writing antibiotic prescriptions for
ear
infections since that is what parents expect. However, recent research indicates
that a two, three, or four day observation period without use of antibacterial
therapy is justified in children with uncomplicated acute otitis media.
Immunization against S. pneumoniae with the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugated
vaccines has reduced the frequency of inner ear bacterial infection caused by
this pathogen.
Staph infection (people misspell this as staff
Because of high incidence, morbidity, and antimicrobial resistance,
Staphylococcus aureus infections are a growing concern for family physicians.
Strains of Staph aureus that are resistant to vancomycin are now recognized.
Increasing incidence of unrecognized community-acquired methicillin-resistant
Staph aureus infections pose a high risk for morbidity and mortality. Although
the incidence of complex Staphylococcus aureus infections is rising, new
antimicrobial agents, including daptomycin and linezolid, are available as
treatment. Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen in skin, soft-tissue,
catheter-related, bone, joint, pulmonary, and central nervous system infections.
S. aureus bacteremias are particularly problematic because of the high incidence
of associated complicated infections, including infective endocarditis.
MRSA
The contamination of chronic wounds with Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) represents a world-wide increasing bacterial
infection problem.
Although it is still unclear whether bacterial contamination is a relevant
factor for delayed wound-healing, verification of MRSA contamination has
significant logistic consequences for the medical institution as well as for the
patient. In particular, if MRSA contamination progresses towards a systemic
infection, options for antibiotic therapy are greatly limited.
Kidney infection
Urinary tract infection is an infection anywhere in the urinary tract,
most commonly due to bacteria. If infection involves the kidney, it is termed
kidney infection or acute pyelonephritis. An estimated 10-30% of all patients
with kidney infection are hospitalized for treatment. Perhaps because of the
generally good prognosis of kidney infection when treated with current
antibacterial therapies, there have been relatively few studies of patient
management and therapeutic options for the disease, or of its epidemiology and
risk factors. kidney infection symptom.
Bacterial infection
This can be caused by a wide range of bacteria,
resulting in mild to life-threatening illnesses (such as bacterial meningitis)
that require immediate intervention. In the United States, bacterial infections
are a leading cause of death in children and the elderly. Hospitalized patients
and those with chronic diseases are at especially high risk of bacterial
infection. Common bacterial infections include pneumonia, ear infections,
diarrhea, urinary tract infections, and skin disorders. Quite a number of bacteria can cause infection in the human body, some
minor, others can be fatal. See
bacteria for more
details. See also
white blood cell
count elevation.
Eye
Infection in the eye can be minor or severe. An eye infection could be
due to a self-limited viral conjunctivitis, or it be due to a bacterial
infection that can cause permanent vision loss. An eye infection can develop in
the eye from irritation, such as getting a small amount of a chemical in the
eye. Infection can also occur after a minor eye injury or a small scratch on the
cornea.
Fungal
There are dozens of fungi that can cause an infection in humans. Most
commonly these fungi cause annoying but harmless skin infections such as
athlete's foot. However, in those who have a weak immune system, more severe and
potentially life threatening fungal infections can occur. See
fungus for more
information.
Sexually transmitted diseases
The number of cases of three key sexually transmitted diseases increased in
2014 for the first time since 2006. In 2014, 1.4 million cases of chlamydia were
reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- a 2.8 percent
increase since 2013. This is the highest number of cases of any STD ever
reported to the CDC. Substantial increases were also reported in rates of
syphilis (15 percent) and gonorrhea (5 percent). And the syphilis rates were
highest among gay and bisexual men, according to the CDC's Sexually Transmitted
Disease Surveillance, 2014 report.
Viral infection
Quite a number of viruses can cause infection in the human body, some are
insignificant, others can be fatal. See
virus for more details. Upper respiratory infection
is most often due to a viral infection.
Influenza can be deadly
and cause numerous fatalities each year.
Infection in tip of finger
Herpetic whitlow cause: The organism is the herpes simplex virus type I or II.
This is the same virus that causes oral or genital herpes infections. People in
certain occupations are more at risk for this infection. These include dentists,
hygienists, physicians, nurses, or any other person who may have contact with
saliva or body fluids that contain the virus. People with oral or genital herpes
may also infect their own fingers. Herpetic whitlow is a self-limited disease.
Treatment most often is directed toward symptomatic relief.
Vaginal infection - yeast
Most women will experience at least one vaginal yeast infection during
their lifetime and many are plagued by recurrent yeast infections. Symptoms of
yeast infection include itching, burning, redness, and irritation of the vaginal
area. Severe yeast infections may cause swelling of the vulva and in some cases
women experience painful and/or frequent urination which is caused by
inflammation of the urinary opening.
Skin infection
The skin can be infected by a virus, bacteria, or fungus. There are
literally hundreds of germs that can cause a skin infection and treatment
depends on the type of microbe. Bacterial infection of the skin can be treated
with antibiotics orally or by an antibiotic cream or ointment.
Mycoplasma genitalium
was first identified in the 1980s.
Salmonella infection
Symptoms of foodborne Salmonella include nausea, vomiting, fever,
diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. In persons with poor health or weakened immune
systems. Salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening
infections.
Shigellosis, an intestinal illness carried by
international travelers, is spreading in the U.S.
Throat infection
A sore, scratchy throat is often the first sign that you're coming down
with a cold, flu, or bacterial throat infection. In fact, sore throat is one of
the most common reasons people see a doctor. Most sore throats, such as those
that accompany a cold or the flu, are caused by viral infections and usually go
away on their own in a few days. Only a small portion of sore throats are the
result of a bacterial infection such as strep throat. But it's important to
identify this bacterial throat infection for a number of reasons. Unlike other
causes of sore throat, strep throat is treatable. The bacteria that cause strep
throat respond quickly to antibiotics, and treatment stops the infection from
spreading to other people. If not treated, strep throat infections can sometimes
cause complications such as rheumatic fever. This serious disease can cause
painful and inflamed joints and a rash, and can even result in damage to heart
valves.
Complications
Acute infections are associated with elevated risk of deep vein
thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
Questions
Would like to first of all thank you and your associates /
staff, for the incredible web site put together with much time and effort. Like
a previous letter writer said, it's important to find someone who one can trust
somewhat, because doctors, pharma companies, supplement companies, and celebrity
spokespersons along with the advertisers they
"shill" for, all have their own reasons and agenda - usually financially
motivated, for endorsing products. I wish more doctors would bother to keep
current with information available from sites like yours. Here in Canada, most
doctors are foils for the big pharma conglomerates, because the mindset is all
drug related with nary a thought to natural alternatives or treatments. Would
you know if I purchased some of the products formulated by you, if they would be
counter productive while I take my currently prescribed "ciprofloxacin" to treat
a bacterial infection?
It's really difficult to say since there are so many
factors involved, it's not only the medicine but the dosage, frequency, your
health condition and what kind of infection you have, how long you plan to take
it, is it a temporary infection or long term infection treatment, which
supplements you would be taking, for how long, for what dosages, etc, etc.
Can taking
Levitra increase the risk
for infection?
I can't see how taking a
phosphodiesterase
inhibitor (especially when used occasionally) would raise the risk for
infection.
What is your opinion regarding colloidal silver as a
natural way to treat infections?
See
colloidal silver for more information.
My husband and I have used a combination product containing oregano oil and olive leaf extract for several years. We use it as needed for mild infections, such as colds, flu, viruses, ear and sinus infections, vaginal infections. At the first sign or symptom of any infection, we start taking it as directed on the bottle two or three times a day. The particular preparation I use is made by LifeTime and recommends 30 drops in a glass of liquid. We rarely suffer more than a couple of days from colds or flu. I find a single oral dose of this product will eliminate unpleasant vaginal discharge and itching overnight. It also reduces the intensity of seasonal eczema which I sometimes get in the summer time.
Travel can increase the risk for viral, fungal, and bacterial infection