 |
|
MEDIA INVITATION. A world first : European research discovers solutions to environmental impact of antibiotics
June 24, 2003The results of three European research projects (ERAVMIS, REMPHARMAWATER and POSEIDON) covering 13 European countries and establishing the environmental impact of human and veterinary antibiotics and possible solutions, will be presented to the press for the first time on 27 June in Gryaab, Göteborg (Sweden), at Scandinavia's largest waste-water treatment plant.
Antibiotics can find their way into our environment, with harmful and worrying consequences. In the last decade 12,500 tons of antibiotics per year were consumed and consumption continues to increase. These compounds are partly degraded by the body but thousands of tons of antibiotics still enter the environment each year by excretion. Recent findings confirm that antibiotics can now be found in municipal waste water and agricultural waste. If nothing is done, these antibiotics will contaminate our water resources and soils.
"Antibiotics are a essential part of modern human and veterinary medicine, contributing significantly to the improvement of our quality of life. Nevertheless, the knowledge of what happens with antibiotics after their use, once they are released into the environment, has been very limited until now," said Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin. "Research in this field started in mid 1980s in Europe, and since then we have been leaders on this issue world-wide, discovering not only the impacts on the environment, but proposing solutions to avoid or minimise it. The results of this European research effort will improve the efficiency and safety of water supply, bringing benefits to industry and consumers and to the protection of our environment".
Protecting aquatic environment from contamination
The residues of antibiotics, and other medicines e.g. birth control pills, painkillers, medicines used to treat cardiovascular and heart diseases, have been detected in sewage treatment plants and raw water resources in many European countries. The removal rates of individual compounds through the wastewater treatment are variable, and some standard removal techniques are not capable of eliminating all of these compounds. As a consequence of this incomplete removal, rivers and even ground waters in some countries are also contaminated.
In addition, the behaviour of veterinary antibiotics in soils and their possible effects on the environment also needs to be addressed, as, once the antibiotic is administrated to the animal, the medicine or the metabolite is released to the environment directly (animals in the field) or indirectly (spreading manure).
Three approaches to a solution: ERAVMIS, REMPHARMAWATER and POSEIDON
Until now, there has been little available information about environmental concentrations of antibiotics residues, but data of the EU research projects have confirmed that antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals are present in sewage and in natural waters. In some cases, metabolites were found also in drinking water sources (e.g. in Germany).
Furthermore, environmental microbial populations appear to change due to exposure to antibiotics. A rise of antibiotic resistance can be seen around the world, making treatment of some diseases difficult. Therefore, it is important to increase our knowledge about these compounds and their behaviour and effects on environment to find practical risk assessment measures to combat the problem.
These three EU projects are so far providing the first data at this European scale to assess the presence and effects of antibiotics in the aquatic environment and soils. On the other hand, they are proposing solutions to the problem: the removal of antibiotics from the waste water (e.g. by ozonation or by sunlight) will be explained in detail during this press briefing in Göteborg.
The ERAVMIS, REMPHARMAWATER and POSEIDON projects have studied the behaviour and impact of antibiotics in the environment, as well as the most effective techniques to eliminate these compounds, both at waste-water and drinking water treatment processes.
ERAVMIS: Addressing the behaviour and effects of veterinary antibiotics in the environment.
Eravmis: www.cranfield.ac.uk/ecochemistry/eravmis
REMPHARMAWATER: About assessment and removal technologies of antibiotics in waste-waters. Rempharmawater: www.unina.it/~rmarotta
POSEIDON: A "solution - world first": antibiotics can be eliminated during the treatment process in order to prevent its release into the environment, as proved in the pilot demonstration in Braunschweig waste water treatment plant (DE).
Poseidon: http//www.eu-poseidon.com
European Commission, Research Directorate
Protecting aquatic environment from contamination
The residues of antibiotics, and other medicines e.g. birth control pills, painkillers, medicines used to treat cardiovascular and heart diseases, have been detected in sewage treatment plants and raw water resources in many European countries. The removal rates of individual compounds through the wastewater treatment are variable, and some standard removal techniques are not capable of eliminating all of these compounds. As a consequence of this incomplete removal, rivers and even ground waters in some countries are also contaminated.
In addition, the behaviour of veterinary antibiotics in soils and their possible effects on the environment also needs to be addressed, as, once the antibiotic is administrated to the animal, the medicine or the metabolite is released to the environment directly (animals in the field) or indirectly (spreading manure).
Three approaches to a solution: ERAVMIS, REMPHARMAWATER and POSEIDON
Until now, there has been little available information about environmental concentrations of antibiotics residues, but data of the EU research projects have confirmed that antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals are present in sewage and in natural waters. In some cases, metabolites were found also in drinking water sources (e.g. in Germany).
Furthermore, environmental microbial populations appear to change due to exposure to antibiotics. A rise of antibiotic resistance can be seen around the world, making treatment of some diseases difficult. Therefore, it is important to increase our knowledge about these compounds and their behaviour and effects on environment to find practical risk assessment measures to combat the problem.
These three EU projects are so far providing the first data at this European scale to assess the presence and effects of antibiotics in the aquatic environment and soils. On the other hand, they are proposing solutions to the problem: the removal of antibiotics from the waste water (e.g. by ozonation or by sunlight) will be explained in detail during this press briefing in Göteborg.
The ERAVMIS, REMPHARMAWATER and POSEIDON projects have studied the behaviour and impact of antibiotics in the environment, as well as the most effective techniques to eliminate these compounds, both at waste-water and drinking water treatment processes.
ERAVMIS: Addressing the behaviour and effects of veterinary antibiotics in the environment.
Eravmis: www.cranfield.ac.uk/ecochemistry/eravmis
REMPHARMAWATER: About assessment and removal technologies of antibiotics in waste-waters. Rempharmawater: www.unina.it/~rmarotta
POSEIDON: A "solution - world first": antibiotics can be eliminated during the treatment process in order to prevent its release into the environment, as proved in the pilot demonstration in Braunschweig waste water treatment plant (DE).
Poseidon: http//www.eu-poseidon.com
European Commission, Research Directorate
Antibiotics Current Events and Antibiotics News RSSNew study finds MRSA on the rise in hospital outpatients
The community-associated strain of the deadly superbug MRSA-an infection-causing bacteria resistant to most common antibiotics-poses a far greater health threat than previously known and is making its way into hospitals, according to a study in the December issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
A Second Skin
Despite advances in treatment regimens and the best efforts of nurses and doctors, about 70% of all people with severe burns die from related infections.
Study reveals why certain drug combinations backfire
Combination drug therapy has become a staple for treating many infections. For instance, doctors treat extensively drug resistant forms of tuberculosis with one drug that breaks down the pathogen's protective barriers and opens the door for another to deliver the deathblow.
New imagining technique could lead to better antibiotics and cancer drugs
A recently devised method of imaging the chemical communication and warfare between microorganisms could lead to new antibiotics, antifungal, antiviral and anti-cancer drugs, said a Texas AgriLife Research scientist.
UCLA researchers reconstitute enzyme that synthesizes cholesterol drug lovastatin
Researchers from the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have for the first time successfully reconstituted in the laboratory the enzyme responsible for producing the blockbuster cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin.
Progress made on group B streptococcus vaccine
Scientists supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, have completed a Phase II clinical study that indicates a vaccine to prevent Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection is possible.
Henry Ford Hospital study: A MRSA strain linked to high death rates
A strain of MRSA that causes bloodstream infections is five times more lethal than other strains and has shown to have some resistance to the potent antibiotic drug vancomycin used to treat MRSA, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study.
Bacteria 'launch a shield' to resist attack
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the Technical University of Denmark along with other collaborators in Denmark and the US found that the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa can 'switch on' production of molecules that kill white blood cells - preventing the bacteria being eliminated by the body's immune system.
Pumpkin skin may scare away germs
The skin of that pumpkin you carve into a Jack-o'-Lantern to scare away ghosts and goblins on Halloween contains a substance that could put a scare into microbes that cause millions of cases of yeast infections in adults and infants each year.
Deadly stomach infection rising in community settings, Mayo Clinic study finds
Mayo Clinic researchers have found that a sometimes deadly stomach bug, Clostridium difficile is on the rise in outpatient settings.
More Antibiotics Current Events and Antibiotics News Articles
 |
Antibiotics Simplified by Jason Gallagher (Author) Antibiotics Simplified is a succinct guide designed to bridge knowledge gained in basic sciences courses with clinical practice in infectious diseases. Introductory chapters explain the rationale behind the treatment of infectious diseases, describe a system for selecting antimicrobial agents and briefly review basic microbiology. Later chapters present relevant characteristics of drug classes, emphasizing clinical "pearls" for individual agents, and also include content on antifungals. The concise nature of the text allows for emphasis on key points, allowing readers to extract the most important characteristics of anti-infective drugs from the larger mass of material that they learn from detailed pharmacology textbooks. This is an ideal handbook for students as well as practicing... |
 |
First Aid Only Triple Antibiotic Ointment Pack, 0.5 Gram, 25-Count Boxes (Pack of 3) by First Aid Only Use this triple antibiotic ointment pack to treat all kinds of minor cuts, burns and abrasions. Helps prevent infection while it promotes healing. May be applied 2 to 3 times daily as the condition indicates. Active ingredients: neomycin and polymyxin B sulfates and bacitracin zinc ointment USP. |
 |
Fish Mox (Amoxicillin 250 mg) - 100 Caps by THOMAS LABS Fish-Mox exerts a bactericidal action on gram positive and some gram negative bacteria. Useful for control of some common bacterial diseases of fish including aeromonas and pseudomonas genera and mysobacterial group (gill diseases, chondrococcus). Add contents of one capsule (250 mg) into aquarium for each 10 gallons of water to be treated. Repeat in 24 hours. It is suggested that a partial water change be made between treatments. While duration of treatment depends on type and severity of infection, it is recommended that extended medication baths continue for a minimum of 5 days & for not more than 10 days. Discontinue treatment if no improvement is noted within 5 days. To remove harmless yellow color, change 20% of water and use charcoal filter until clear. |
 |
Antibiotic Essentials 2009 by Burke Cunha MD (Author) Antibiotic Essentials is a concise, practical, and authoritative guide to the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases commonly encountered in adults. It covers 542 clinical infectious disease syndromes, HIV infection, 134 detailed drug summaries, pediatric infectious diseases, and a chest x-ray atlas. Topics include: Empiric Therapy Based on Clinical Syndrome; Initial Therapy Based on Isolates; Pending Susceptibility Testing; HIV Infection; Fungi, Parasites, Unusual Organisms; Antibiotic Prophylaxis and Immunizations; Drug Summaries |
 |
Antibiotic Basics for Clinicians: Choosing the Right Antibacterial Agent (Point (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins)) by Alan R Hauser (Author) Designed for quick, easy comprehension, this handbook reference will assist medical students in understanding the rationale behind antibiotic selection for common bacterial pathogens and infectious disease presentations. By supplying the rationale for choosing antibiotics, the book reduces the amount of memorization necessary for proper antibiotic prescribing. The book is heavily illustrated with two-color figures and includes fact-anecdotes, interesting ancillary information, mnemonics, and questions to test understanding. Appendices include dosing in adults and children; antibacterial agents in pregnancy; generic and trade names of commonly used antibacterial agents; and treatment of infections caused by bacterial agents of bioterrorism. |
 |
Fish Flex Cephalexin - 250 mg 100 capsules by THOMAS LABS Fish-Flex is for use in aquariums for treatment of bacterial activity. Add contents of one capsule (250 mg) into aquarium for each 10 gallons of water to be treated. Repeat in 24 hours. It is suggested that a partial water change be made between treatments. While duration of treatment depends on type and severity of infection, it is recommended that extended medication baths continue for a minimum of 5 days & for not more than 10 days. Discontinue treatment if no improvement is noted within 5 days. |
 |
Antibiotics Pocketcard 2009 by H. Hof (Author) Antibiotics pocketcard provides an initial choice of antimicrobial therapy for most common infections. These empirical therapies cover more than 90% of everyday scenarios. The reverse side of this durable plastic card shows a table of antimicrobial spectra for the most important antibiotics. **2009 edition, completely updated! **Initial choice of antimicrobials for: CNS, heart, blood, gastrointestinal tract, bones/joints, urogenital tract, eye, ENT, skin/soft tissue diseases, fever of unknown origin. **Antimicrobial agents against selected bacteria, e.g. streptococci, staphylococci. |
 |
Triple Antibiotic Ointment, 144/box by Swift First-Aid Each 0.5 gram packet contains a 3-in-1 antibiotic: bacitracin, neomycin, and polymixin B. |
 |
Antibiotics: Actions, Origins, Resistance by Christopher Walsh (Author) Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Text analyzes how small molecules interfere selectively with the processes central to the survival of bacterial cells. Focuses on the relatively few molecules in antibiotics having an impact on human infectious disease. DNLM: Antibiotics--pharmacology. |
 |
First Aid Only Triple Antibiotic Ointment Pack, 0.5 Gram, 10-Count Boxes (Pack of 10) by First Aid Only Use this triple antibiotic ointment pack to treat all kinds of minor cuts, burns and abrasions. Helps prevent infection while it promotes healing. May be applied 2 to 3 times daily as the condition indicates. Active ingredients: neomycin and polymyxin B sulfates and bacitracin zinc ointment USP. |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |