Drug resistant pathogen

The lead story, “Drug-resistant bug causes worry” (Nov.29), was apt. More lives are lost due to multi-organ failure caused by sepsis in intensive care units than to natural calamities. When the subject of the ‘Delhi Bug’ was raised a few years ago, it resulted in a hue and cry and a spate of denials; no action. Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella is seen in almost 80 per cent of cultures in ICUs and even among ordinarily admitted patients in hospitals. This problem has persisted for more than a couple of years now.

Drug-resistant Klebsiella has colonised many hospitals. This is because of the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in regular medical practice as well as in poultry and cattle. Even a single course of a simple antibiotic like azithromycin has been shown to alter intestinal protective bacteria for almost six months. The general public should be discouraged from taking antibiotics for common ailments such as fever, cold and diarrhoea. Similarly, antibiotic usage in hospitals should be curtailed, and positive cultures without symptoms should not be treated. The lowest antibiotic should be tried. As in the West, antibiotic prescriptions should be audited.

Dr. Rajan Ravichandran,

Chennai

Original article Link

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/letters/drugresistant-pathogen/article7930347.ece#.Vlu4dazeNiM.email

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Sapiens PD assist programme

Launch of Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Assist Programme by Sapiens Health Foundation

Conventionally patients with kidney failure have been treated with hospital based haemodialysis in our country. Less than 10% undergo home based therapy or CAPD or Peritoneal Dialysis (PD). Sapiens Health Foundation a NGO championing the cause of kidney failure patients for several decades has launched a unique programme of assisting financially peritoneal dialysis patients. Dr. Rajan Ravichandran, the Chairman of the foundation spoke on the advantages of home based therapy and the convenience to work full time. According to him, if patients are educated to take care of themselves at home and if the cost comes down, PD would become the first line of treatment in the country. The procedure can be done anywhere including villages where hospital facilities are not available. The chief guest for the function Mr. Ganesan, Vice President, TCS  enrolled the first four patients for the PD assist programme. An appeal was made to the industrialists present to sponsor PD as a part of Corporate Social Responsibility. Mrs. Poornima Bhagyaraj  was the Guest of Honour who narrated her experience with her family member on Peritoneal Dialysis.

For more information visit www.sapiensfoundation.org.

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REDUCING SALT IN DIET REDUCES ALBUMIN IN URINE

120 villages in China were studied. The average salt intake was found to be 14gms/day. In 60 villages the salt was reduced in the diet. It was found that reducing salt resulted in less excretion of Protein/Albumin in urine. Similarly the blood pressure also showed downward trend in those people taking less salt.

THIS STUDY WAS PRESENTED IN AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY CONFERENCE HELD AT PHILADELPHIA IN NOVEMBER 2014.

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Salt Flakes or Corn Flakes?

Salt flakes or corn flakes? 

According to the study conducted by WASH  in several countries it was found that the food companies sell same product in different countries with different salt content.

For example
Kellogs cornflakes  in Middle East contains 2.8 gms per 100 gms

1.8 gms in UK, 1.75gms in Spain,  1.9gms in India

The All Bran  contains 2.15 gms in Canada, .65 in UK and surprisingly 4.5 gms in India

The same thing was applicable to products of companies like KFC, Mcdonalds, Nestle Burger King etc

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World Heart Day

WORLD HEART DAY

WHO has released some misconceptions about salt intake

1. "On a hot humid day when you sweat you require more salt".
      Sweat does not contain much salt but you require more water.

2. "Sea salt is better than manufactured salt because it is natural"
      Regardless of the source of salt, it is the sodium in salt which causes high blood pressure.

3. "Food has no flavour without salt"
     It may be true at first but soon the taste buds get accustomed to less salt.

4. "Food high in salt tastes salty"
     Not necessarily so. It is improtant to see the sodium content in the label.

5. "Only old people need to worry about the salt they eat"
      Eating too much salt can raise blood pressure at any age.

6. "Reducing salt could be bad for my health"
     It is very difficult to eat too little salt since sodium occurs in natural food also.

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Salt Sathyagraha

The commonest cause of high blood pressure is common salt. Majority of the population have a blood pressure which is salt dependent. The average intake of salt in the Indian diet is 15gms per day. Unfortunately since we now live more in air conditioned environment rather than farms, this salt intake leads to high blood pressure. The average American intake is 7gms for the female and 10gms for the male per day. It is estimated that if salt is reduced by 1/3rd in the diet, there is a 30% chance of reducing heart attacks and strokes. USA has estimated that it can save 25 billion dollars in health care if the average American reduces the salt intake by 1/3rd. There is a vigorous campaign for low salt intake all over the world including Japan and China.

A walkathon lead by Dr. Rajan Ravichandran was organised on 7th March 2010 at Marina beach, Chennai. Renowned playwright and comedian Crazy Mohan and US Consul General Andrew T.Simkin also participated. A large crowd joined the walkathon to support the salt reduction campaign.

Walkathon, Chennai.

A walkathon was organised by sugarbp.org in collaboration with ECH at Puducherry in the morning of 11th April 2010 . A large crowd joined the walkathon to support salt reduction campaign.

Walkathon, Puducherry.

A rally was taken out at Tiruchirapalli (Tiruchi) on 6th June 2010 to create awareness among people on the hazards of high salt intake in diet. Organized jointly by the Chennai-based Balaji Medical and Educational Trust/sugarbp.org and Tiruchi-based renowned consultant nephrologist Dr.P.Giri.. Over 200 persons, including students, took part in the rally that commenced from the CSI-Methodist School and culminated at the IMA Hall.

Walkathon, Tiruchirapalli (Tiruchi).

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Cut down on salt: Expert

Traditionally, Indians consume between 10 and 15 gm of salt a day. While this may have been tolerable in earlier generations when hard work in the heat enabled the body to sweat it off, today, it is leading to unhealthy consequences.

“The World Health Organisation recommends only 5 gm per day. This means that we have to cut down our salt intake considerably. If all of us reduce our salt intake by one-third, it is estimated that the health budget can be cut by 40 per cent,” said Rajan Ravichandran, chairman, Sapiens Health Foundation.

Speaking on the eve of World Kidney Day, Dr. Ravichandran said 45 per cent of the adult population in the country had high blood pressure, which was the most common killer in the world.

V. Shanta, chairman, Cancer Institute, Adyar, said days such as these should be used to re-dedicate oneself to creating awareness and preventing various diseases.

“Over the last few decades, though rapid advances have been made in the medical field, we are seeing the rise of non-communicable diseases. The problem in India is that even communicable diseases have not been wiped out as yet,” she said.

Comedian Crazy Mohan and cartoonist Madhan spoke about the need to stay fit and health conscious. Several patients of kidney disease, who have now recovered, also spoke on the occasion.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/cut-down-on-salt-expert/article5779043.ece

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