Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with bacterial

Germs on my hands

MrMulan — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:17:15 -0800

Is it possible for bacteria, and/or viruses to ever physically adapt to soap, alcohol, peroxide, iodine, ect.? Washing your hands is the best way to cut down on a known vector for germs to spread. Could bacteria adapt physically in a similar way lice or hookworms have? Or does their size make it impossible? Same for viruses.

I know bacteria can and are adapting to chemical solutions like anti-bacterial soap. When hand washing with soap, the soap is not suppose to kill the bacteria, but it is the physical activity of rubbing that gets rid of the bacteria. The soap just makes it physically easier to transfer bacteria from your hands to the soap which is then washed down the drain.

As for viruses, could they ever evolve to the point that the usual disinfectants would not work? (alcohol, lysol, ect.)

Personal answers, opinions, anecdotes, are all welcomed, but links are always preferred.

As always thanks in advanced.

Icky nail infection in NYC: Derm recommendations in midtown?

Anonymous — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:10:26 -0800

Manhattan dermatologist who can see me this week to handle an out of control icky infection (classic manicure-from-hell scenario)? The closer to Grand Central-ish, the better! So when I first noticed my fingernail was infected - due to the throbbing and rapid expansion of a whiteness growing beneath the nail plate - I went to see an urgent care doc in midtown who put me on antibiotics and advised hot soaks in water, betadine, and hydrogen peroxide.

It's been weeks and despite religious adherence to this regimen (although I *have* perhaps made it worse by wearing bandaids which trap moisture), my nail is thisclose to falling off. I googled this and apparently it may be that yeast have invaded.

Anyhoo, I'd like to have a real dermatologist take a look at this ASAP before it gets any worse. Can anyone recommend a plain old medical dermatologist in midtown (40s or 50s) that might take me this week?

I'll be doing my fair share of calling around but I have literally zero time from 8am to 7pm.

Thanks so much for your help!

HomeRemedyFilter

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:08:27 -0800

Can one use Lactobacillus acidophilus to treat bacterial vaginosis and, if so, how? I have a doctor's appointment in three days for what I believe is BV. Meanwhile, I also have a pack of Acidophilus Pearls. The MayoClinic website implies that I can somehow use Lactobacillus acidophilus to treat BV. It would be awesome if I could do that instead of getting some sort of heavy duty antibiotic from the doctor.

Has this actually worked for anybody? If so, how do I do it...would I use the pills orally or vaginally? (and, if vaginally, how exactly does that work?) Throwaway email address of mefianonhomeremedyfilter AT gmail DOT com for followups and replies.

How do I deal with the depression stemming from a really bad year?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 14:56:17 -0800

I have been beset by crappy luck and chronic health problems in the past year. It's been extremely stressful, worsened by the fact these very health problems prevent me from employing my normal methods of dealing with stress. I'm spiraling quickly downward into mood-swings and depression and I don't know what to do. How did you deal with your stressful periods? In the past year, I've contracted HPV, had surgery to deal with the subsequent cervical dysplasia, developed bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infections on multiple occasions, and due to the necessary multiple antibiotic regimens I'm now into the eighth month of a yeast infection that is not even responding to strong anti-fungals. In the past six months I've also managed to pick up ovarian cysts and chronic kidney stones. I have two sports injuries that prevent me from doing any exercise besides slow walking and just found out I have a repetitive stress injury in my forearms. I've had multiple emergency-room trips for some of these conditions, as well as one a few months ago for an absolutely vicious bout of food poisoning. To make matters worse, in the past year I've also been sexually assaulted and a victim of check fraud, both which were a multiple-month legal headache to deal with, not to mention the psychological toll.

My schoolwork is suffering. I'm completely stressed out--I have never had health problems and they're now all piling on at once. I could deal with any one just by itself, but the sheer mass of them is driving me crazy. I get a lot of relief from hard exercise, but the sports injuries prevent any form--really, any form, I've tried. I get relief from sex, but that's only been possible twice in the past three months due to the yeast infections. Can't drink because of the anti-fungals. Can't even bake, cook, pet my cats, or escape to the internet due to the RSI. I've tried coping with ice cream, but that provides short-term relief, long-term stress due the expanding waistline, and I gotta cut that out again in another effort to treat the yeast infection (I was on a meat-eggs-vegetables diet, the infection died down, I included the sugar again and it's come back with a vengeance).

I'm incredibly depressed. I'm getting inexplicable mood swings. I hate my sick, deteriorating body and want to escape it. I want to lie down somewhere and cry. I have had deep depression before, beat it, and have remained pretty optimistic and upbeat--but after a year of this shit I can't anymore. I've joked with my boyfriend that I hope I get cancer, as that would be a sure sign from the universe that it didn't want me in it and I could take it as a cue to just kill myself.

What did you do with your bad luck year? Do you have any suggestions for dealing with the stress (besides meditation--that hasn't worked)? I'm living my life waiting for the next thing to come around the corner and punch me in the face, while attempting to nurse the bruises I've already received. It's no life at all.

help for chronic vaginal infections?

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 17:50:34 -0800

Yeast? Bacterial vaginosis? Something else? It's getting chronic and I'm starting to despair. For details about girly parts, there's first off: I will be seeing a doctor soon, but have to wait a few weeks. I also understand that most of you are not doctors. Okay, with that out of the way:

Starting about a year ago, I got a yeast infection for the first time in many years. Whether it was a function of going back on the pill, or becoming sexually active after a long dry spell, or other reasons, I don't know. The pill seemed like it might have been the culprit, though, so in addition to treating the yeast with both OTC remedies and acidophilus, I went off the pill. Then I went on the sponge, which seemed to make the problem worse. So then we settled on condoms. Things seemed better for awhile.

But flash forward a year and it's been just a constant on-again, off-again struggle with the girly parts infections (various combinations of discharge, pain, itching, odor, etc). About 2 months ago, I was diagnosed with a combo of yeast and bacterial vaginosis. I was treated simultaneously with antibiotics and antifungals. Yay! It seemed like we had finally figured it out! After treatment, I felt great.

Things were fine.... till last night, when (during sex) I noticed a lot of an extraordinary thick, white, sticky discharge - seriously, it was almost the consistency of vanilla frosting. But no odor. No pain, no itching. Just huge globs of this stuff.

Ugh, what gives? I've been sexually active since college (in my 30s now), and till last year could count the number of infections I'd had on one hand. Now it seems chronic. Am I doomed to be on the antibiotic/antifungal cycle forever now? And given the facts about how repeated antibiotic use can lead to resistance, is that wise? Are there proven alternative treatments to consider? Could the lube we use (KY "Silk") be a contributing factor?Should my partner be treated? (My gyne and my nurse practitioner both say that BV isn't sexually transmitted, so it's got nothing to do with him. But we both wonder.)

Thanks for any feedback, suggestions, moral support, etc.