Posted on 08/02/2005 3:48:31 AM PDT by Flavius
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 2, 2005--Hundreds of U.S. soldiers have been infected with a potentially deadly drug resistant bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii, that apparently originated in Iraqi soil, according to Forbes.com Medical & Science Writer Matthew Herper. Visit www.forbes.com for this exclusive report, "The Iraq Infection."
According to Herper's report, "most of the victims are relatively young troops who were injured by the land mines, mortars and suicide bombs that have permeated the Iraq conflict." While no active duty soldiers have died from the infection, five deaths did occur among extremely sick patients who were in the same hospitals as the injured soldiers who were infected with the bacteria.
More people carry the bacteria than are infected, so military hospitals are taking extreme care to prevent spread of the infection. The total cost of antibiotics to treat such infections has skyrocketed. The annual bill for the drugs at one hospital has increased tenfold to $200,000. Infections of the bone, bloodstream or internal organs can complicate care.
Three drugs have been used to fight the infections, with varying success:
* Imipenem, which carries a risk of seizure * Amikacin, not effective if the bones are infected * Colistin, no longer used because of its toxic effect on the kidneys
Herper also explores what researchers are doing to try to determine how the bacteria came to infect hundred of soldiers, in "Military Chases Mystery Infection."
maybe savage was right and razing the city and covering with salt or whatever.
Prayer ping for our soldiers...
Not exactly a new thing. How many troops came back from Viet Nam with the ever popular “Unknown Tropical Infection”? When large numbers of people are transplanted from one country to another they often have no resistance to many local bacteria.
Why should flesh and blood Americans have to die or be injured at all? Instead of medicare drug pork or commie farm bill, why can't we just put $200 billion per year and create a massive robot and drone military force that never sleeps, never stops, 24 hour killing machines anywhere on the planet. Just as with our pathetic space program which has barely improved at all in 25 years, the progress in mechanization of our military has moved at a snail's pace. We spend next to nothing on it even today. Drones cost $2.5 million. If we took away Planned Parenthood's $600 million gov't funding,we could build over 200 drones to protect our men and target terrorists. Bush has not proposed cutting PP's funding by even a penny. Our priorities are all screwed up.
You are exactly right. But folks also visiting Mexico tend to acquire "creeping crud" (as it used to be called). It has to do with being in a foreign environment. Anyway, my son-in-law had something quite resembling" Acinetobacter baumannii". Military treated him immediately and aggressively. He's fine.
Military treated him immediately and aggressively. He's fine.
Don't you watch Battlestar Galactica?
The problems which MAY arise, usually come from less then competent lower-level "management". But it doesn't go to the top. In the worldview of liberals; only not-themselves are prone to flaws. It's why liberals can never admit when they are wrong, and ergo have devised their "social justice" secular religion.
Be careful what you wish for.
YOUR priorities maybe all screwed up considering they are entirely concentrated upon bitching and moaning.
It is my favorite show currently. However, machine guns mounted on mini-treads controlled with a joystick from Kuwait are a far cry from Cylon hotties. We need basic machines in the field so we can slaughter Islamofacists day and night without risking the lives of our men needlessly.
But do you disagree that we need massively more drones and gun-robots in the field? Btw, your reply is perfect considering your FR nickname. ;)
As Rummy said you go to war with what you have. Only the most naive would believe massive technology can be brought to bear without proper training or that the equipment itself just flows onto the scene by turning on a tap. Apparently you have no awareness of government contracting and the incredible red tape delays therein.
More technology IS being used more than any other war. Defeatists are not particularly up on positive improvements living only to criticize and offering nothing productive.
I would respond but your rudeness shows you are not worth the effort. How dare you call me a "defeatist" you schmuck.
In the worldview of liberals; only not-themselves are prone to flaws. It's why liberals can never admit when they are wrong, and ergo have devised their "social justice" secular religion.
Having not seen any posts from you which would contradict that name I will leave it as it stands. While not particularly interested in you I vaguely recall you as a constant critic of the President and the effort in Iraq. If that is NOT true point me to something that makes my comment invalid and I will happily apologize.
Feeling is mutual. Have a nice day.
My assertions stand unchallenged.
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