10. Pharmaceutical Antibiotics

Synthetic commercial antibiotics may be somewhat powerful...but at a cost. At the very least, they will indiscriminately kill off healthy gut flora too, lowering overall immunity and possibly leading to yeast (Candida) infections. At the worst, they can also cause some very severe side effects, not totally eradicate the Staph and only breed further induced resistance.

So, it is important to do your homework and be prepared for any potential side effects in advance. Because once you start a course (typically 10 days), you should finish it all the way through. These pharmaceutical drugs are all or nothing. Otherwise, you may simply kill off all the weaker bugs and leave the stronger ones behind! Not good!

Also keep in mind that MRSA is, by definition, resistant to many antibiotics. So, regardless of toxicity, they may also simply not work that well, either.

MRSA is a type of S. areus that is resistant to antibiotics called beta-lactams. Beta-lactam antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin.

Most healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) are also resistant to macrolides, fluoroquinolones, clindamycin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole

CA-MRSA strains are generally susceptible to a wider range of antibiotics (e.g., usually susceptible to fluoroquinolones and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole [TMP/SMX]) and some CA-MRSA carry genes encoding toxins and virulence factors (e.g. Pantone-Valentine leukocidin)

That said, if you have a fast-spreading infection that has gone internally septic (often seen with large, red, spreading streaks) - you may have to "cut your nose to save your face" just to at least buy yourself some time. When presented with limited options, you may simply have to choose your lesser of evils...

So, it's always good to keep all your options open and make your own personal choices. And at least make a better-informed decision, if you do choose to try this route.

Sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra):

trimethoprim / sulfamethoxazole, probably the best choice of the affordable medications when an oral antibiotic is needed. "Sulfamethoxazole covers most MRSA,"

Trimeth/sulfa monotherapy may be effective in treating MRSA

"If you give sulfa first line ... willy-nilly to everyone who steps into an ED with a skin infection, you are going to give someone a bad sulfa rash."

serious risks and side-effects from this antibiotic, marketed under many names, including Bactrim, Bactrim DS, Septra, Septra DS, Septrin, Sulfatrim, SMZ/TMP, Septran and co-trimoxazole

Clindamycin:

Treat with clindamycin rather than TMP/SMX if streptococcal infection is in the differential diagnosis. However, some MRSA isolates can become resistant to clindamycin while on therapy (i.e., inducible clindamycin resistance) and this should be suspected if a CA-MRSA isolate is erythromycin-resistant.

It is also used to treat bone and joint infections, particularly those caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

many strains of MRSA are still susceptible to clindamycin; however, in the United States spreading from the West Coast eastwards, MRSA is becoming increasingly resistant.

The most severe common adverse effect of clindamycin is Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (the most frequent cause of pseudomembranous colitis). Although this side effect occurs with almost all antibiotics, including beta-lactam antibiotics, it is classically linked to clindamycin use.

If you really need antibiotics, use Clindamyacin if your MRSA responds to it. The microbiologist I spoke to about MRSA said it's one of the very few antibiotics that enter human cells to get the infection there.

If you can't use Clindamyacin (it is more expensive), take Bactrim or Septra with the milk thistle. It will help it get into the cell and work there.

Rifampin:

Rifampin, an older antibiotic usually used as part of multidrug therapy for tuberculosis, is ineffective as staphylococcal single-drug therapy. When used in combination with other antibiotics with Gram-positive activity, it improves their cure rates.

rifampin monotherapy is not recommended, some clinicians add the agent in combination with other antimicrobials

Rifampin, which kills bacteria by inhibiting DNA-dependent RNA polymerase
although it is ineffective single-drug therapy for treating staphylococcal infections, numerous studies have shown that when rifampin is combined with vancomycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (trimeth/sulfa), minocycline, or ciprofloxacin, the resulting in vivo synergy markedly improves clinical outcomes.
Because rifampin is eliminated by the liver, reduced doses may be needed if the patient has elevated liver enzymes.

For the treatment of nonserious skin and wound infections, trimeth/sulfa and rifampin combination therapy may be an alternative to vancomycin in patients of all ages. (7,8) For adults who have sulfa allergies or who have isolates that test trimeth/sulfa-resistant, minocycline plus rifampin may be an efficacious vancomycin alternative.

in every study published to date, whenever rifampin has been combined with any of the discussed antibiotics, clinical outcomes have been improved. To date, there have been no studies published in which rifampin clinical antagonism has been observed.

Minocycline:

Minocycline, a tetracycline with unusual clinical efficacy against S aureus, is contraindicated in pregnant and pediatric patients. It must be taken with a full glass of water, and the pills must be swallowed whole to avoid esophagitis.

Daptomycin (Cubicin):

Cubicin infusion contains the active ingredient daptomycin, which is a medicine used to treat infections with bacteria, in particular Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Daptomycin is a new type of antibiotic known as a lipopeptide antibiotic. It can only be used to treat infections with a specific sub-group of bacteria called Gram positive bacteria.

Daptomycin works by binding to the cell membranes of Gram positive bacteria, causing them to lose potassium. This causes a reaction that rapidly stops the bacteria making proteins and genetic material that they need to survive and multiply. This kills the bacteria and treats the infection.

Daptomycin has a different mechanism of action to all the other classes of antibiotics. This means it can be used to treat Gram positive bacterial infections that are resistant to other antibiotics. An example of this is infection with the "superbug" MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus). Such bacterial infections have become more common, particularly in hospitals, due to increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotic treatment. As daptomycin works in a different way to other antibiotics, it may provide doctors with a new line of attack for these types of infections. Other types of antibiotics may be used at the same time as treatment with daptomycin, if necessary.

Daptomycin is a newly-approved antibacterial agent, the first lipopeptide agent to be released onto the market. Its spectrum of activity is limited to Gram-positive organisms, including a number of highly resistant species (MRSA, VISA, VRSA, VRE). It appears to be more rapidly bactericidal than vancomycin.

Iclaprim:

intravenous iclaprim, a novel antibiotic, showed high clinical cure rates which were similar to those of the comparator drug, linezolid, in the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI) caused by Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Vancomycin:

Treat with IV vancomycin (or linezolid) for severe skin infection caused by CA-MRSA, or any evidence of invasive disease

despite its in vitro activity, when vancomycin is used as single-drug therapy to treat MRSA infections, cure rates in serious infections have been very disappointing. Sakoulas (3) has reported 44% failures in treating bacteremia, and Moise and Schentag (4) have shown 40% failures in treating lower respiratory-tract infections.
a patient for whom vancomycin is prescribed must wear an infusaport around the clock
To avoid toxicity, blood levels must be monitored. Vancomycin drug acquisition, administration, and laboratory costs are approximately $100 per day.

Vancomycin is an antibiotic to which staphylococcal resistance is rare. It is eliminated through the kidneys. To prevent nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity, monitoring of serum levels is highly recommended.

Red Man Syndrome (RMS) is a commonly observed adverse drug event associated with vancomycin therapy. It is characterized by a sudden and/or profound drop in blood pressure, a maculopapular rash, angioedema, pruritus, erythema, wheezing, or dyspnea . Any or all of these effects may be seen. While rare, changes in blood pressure have been severe enough to produce cardiovascular collapse. The reaction may occur within a few minutes of starting an IV infusion of vancomycin

Linezolid (Zyvox):

The lincosamides, linezolid (Zyvox), and vancomycin are also choices, but "linezolid is exquisitely expensive and can cause reversible thrombocytopenia," Dr. Elston said. "It is an oral drug than can outdo [intravenous] vancomycin, but it is already being overused so we are seeing resistance emerging." He estimated the cost for a 1-week supply at $1,000.

Most MRSA isolates test sensitive to linezolid, an oral drug that is usually well tolerated, but which carries a risk of hematological abnormalities, including myelosuppression and thrombocytopenia. Linezolid costs $120 per day (i.e., $1,200 for a 10-day course).

Tygacil:

proven efficacy of Tygacil as monotherapy in complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI) and complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI)

Telavancin:

At clinically attainable concentrations, telavancin was active against bacteria embedded in biofilm (minimal biofilm eradication concentration [MBEC] 0.125 to 2µg/mL), and inhibited biofilm formation at concentrations below the MIC. Vancomycin did not demonstrated the same activity (MBEC ≥512µg/mL) against S. aureus and Enterococcus. Telavancin may have a unique role in biofilm-associated infections.

Tigecycline:

Tigecycline is the first of a new class of antimicrobial agents, the glycylcyclines, which are structurally derived from the tetracycline nucleus. Tigecycline possesses activity against Gram-positive and -negative pathogens, binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit and inhibiting protein synthesis (Bouchillon et al., 2005). Tigecycline does not demonstrate co-resistance with known mechanisms of resistance, including tetracycline resistance (Bergeron et al., 1996). Tigecycline has in vitro activity against drug-resistant phenotypes including vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP), MSSA and MRSA

Altabax:

Altabax is a new antibiotic ointment. A new class of antibiotic, it is a semisynthetic derivative of the compound pleuromutilin, which comes through fermentation from Clitopilus passecherianus. Altabax works by selectively inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis.

Indicated for treatment of impetigo (superficial bacterial infections), Altabax is applied twice daily with or without bandaging.

Clinical studies demonstrated an 85 percent or more success rate, compared to 50 percent placebo success rate. Systemic absorption of Altabax is low, so drug interactions are not a concern.

When My son got MRSA his Primary put him on Altabax saying that it was much better than Mupirocin and left MRSA outbreaks no where to hide. It's downside is it cannot be used in the nose, a favorite hiding place for MRSA.
She was right it seems to heal open sores/boils in half the time and so far my son has not had another outbreak after 6 months.

ALTABAX is not intended for ingestion or for oral, intranasal, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use. ALTABAX has not been evaluated for use on mucosal surfaces.

Prescribing ALTABAX in the absence of a proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of the development of drug-resistant bacteria.

And if you do choose to go this route, I would also be sure to follow your course with a good, lengthy probiotics regimen...

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09. R&D

Here are a few new, potential future remedies currently being studied now:

Native Herbs:

the Confederacy commissioned botanist Francis Porcher to compile a book on medicinal plants that could be used by battlefield physicians to treat sick or wounded soldiers. The plants featured in Mr. Porcher’s book were native to the southern United States, and some were used in traditional Native American medicine.
researchers prepared extracts from three plants described as antiseptics in Mr. Porcher’s book—the bark and galls of white oak (Quercus alba); leaves, root inner bark, and branch bark of tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera); and leaves of devil’s walking stick (Aralia spinosa).
Extracts from white oak inhibited the growth of all three bacteria. Extracts from all three plants inhibited biofilm formation—a process in which bacteria secrete substances that protect them against antibiotics and the immune system—in S. aureus. Extracts from devil’s walking stick also inhibited a signaling process in S. aureus called quorum sensing, which causes the bacteria to start secreting toxins.
These results suggest that the historical use of these three plants to treat wounds may actually have been helpful.

Nisin:

A new generation of natural antibiotics that target harmful micro-organisms such as MRSA

Tin Chlorin e6:

Researchers attached a light-sensitive antimicrobial drug to a protein fragment, or peptide, which latches onto a molecule on the surface of the superbug bacteria.

In this way methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bugs are targeted while human cells are left alone.

The antimicrobial agent, tin chlorin e6, releases destructive molecules that kill the bacteria when exposed to light of the right wavelength.

In tests, the therapy killed 99.97 per cent of 10 million MRSA cells and proved 1,000 times more effective than tin chlorin e6 without the targeting peptide.

The killing mechanism used makes it very unlikely that bacteria will develop resistance against the treatment

BU-005:

BU-005 -- blocks pumps that a bacterium employs to expel an antibacterial agent called chloramphenicol. The team used a new and highly efficient method for the synthesis of BU-005 and other C-capped dipetptides.

a new compound of C-capped dipeptides, called BU-005, to circumvent a family of drug-efflux pumps associated with Gram-positive bacteria, which include the dangerous MRSA and tuberculosis strains. Until that discovery, C-capped dipeptides were known to work only against an efflux pump family associated with Gram-negative bacteria.

"If drug efflux pumps are inhibited, then bacteria will be susceptible to drugs again,"

False Quorum-Sensing Molecules:

Bacteria are incredibly multi-drug-resistant right now, and that's because all of the antibiotics that we use kill bacteria.
We thought, well what if we could sort of do behavior modifications, just make these bacteria so they can't talk, they can't count, and they don't know how to launch violence.

And so that's exactly what we've done, and we've sort of taken 2 strategies. The first one is we've targeted the intraspecies communication system. So we made molecules that look kind of like the real molecules - which you saw - but they're a little bit different. And so they lock into those receptors, and they jam recognition of the real thing.

We've also don the same thing with the pink system. We've taken that universal molecule and turned it around a little bit so that we've made antagonists of the interspecies communication system. The hope is that these will be used as broad-spectrum antibiotics that work against all bacteria.

AQ+

An aqueous preparation containing 0.5% 8-hydroxyquinoline that disrupts the cell wall of S. aureus leading to cell lysis.

Cannabinoids:

All five major cannabinoids (cannabidiol (1b), cannabichromene (2), cannabigerol (3b), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (4b), and cannabinol (5)) showed potent activity against a variety of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains of current clinical relevance.

Nanotechnology:

In an April 3, 2011 online article in Nature Chemistry, researchers from the IBM Almaden Research Center, Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Singapore and Zhejiang University in China publish groundbreaking data on how biodegradable nanoparticles could be used to treat infectious diseases such as methillicin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

The research shows how nanoparticles can selectively disrupt microbial cell membranes, walls and inhibit the growth of gram-positive bacteria, MRSA and fungi.

What makes this research exciting, is that the nanoparticles did not cause haemolysis or break-up of red blood cells. The authors note that nanoparticles for the treatment of infectious diseases could be “synthesized in large quantities and at low cost” and are therefore “promising as anti-microbial drugs.”

Researchers at International Business Machines Corp. said they developed a tiny drug, called a nanoparticle, that in test-tube experiments showed promise as a weapon against dangerous superbugs that have become resistant to antibiotics.

The company's researchers, in collaboration with scientists at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Singapore, said their nanoparticle can target and destroy antibiotic-resistant bacteria—such as the potentially lethal Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA—without affecting healthy cells.

The nanoparticle, 50,000 times smaller than the thickness of a human hair, is designed with a specific electrical charge that is attracted by an opposite charge on the surface of the membrane of MRSA and other bacteria

"It's like the north pole and the south pole," Dr. Hedrick said, referring to the magnetic-like attraction of poles with opposite electrical charges. "The particles disrupt the membrane, generate holes in it and empty out" the bacteria. The researchers believe the resulting destruction of the bacteria renders them unable to develop resistance to the nanoparticles.

The IBM drug "goes well beyond the normal method of action of standard antibiotics," said Mario Raviglione, an infectious-disease expert at the Geneva-based World Health Organization, who was informed of the technology by IBM. "It's like a missile against the cell."

"It turns out that we've discovered a lot of ways to control materials at the molecular level as we went through building microelectronic devices," Dr. Hedrick said.

In addition to its electrical charge, the new particle is biodegradable. "The materials are designed to go in there, do their business and go away," Dr. Hedrick said.

textiles which will kill the MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) superbug. The BioElectricSurface Research Team has used nanomaterials on textiles used in hospital drapes, bed linens and upholstery. Nanomaterials, which are a thousand times smaller than a human hair, are known to possess extra-ordinary properties that the team has harnessed to develop this technology to fight MRSA.
They have embedded both commercial and custom-made nanoparticles into textiles through a patent-pending process that is effective against MRSA and other superbugs. The patent pending process ensures the nanoparticles adhere tightly to the textile which is an essential feature in commercialisation as it minimises "free" or "loose" nanoparticles.

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08. Holistic Health

Terrain > Germ

"The terrain is everything; the germ is nothing" - Claude Bernard

"Bernard was right; the pathogen is nothing; the terrain is everything." - Louis Pasteur (from his deathbed)

Honestly, BOTH the germ AND the terrain are important. But, improving your general health and boosting your immune function (terrain) are the more sustainable longterm solutions here.

So, here are some ways to help do that.

Qigong:

Learning and regularly practicing a form of qigong can boost your overall energy & health. Qigong is an ancient Eastern, meditative practice of cultivating subtle bioenergy to increase your own capacity, flow, frequency, and reserves of it. More & higher energy = better health.

Here are a few qigong forms one might try for starters, if so inclined:
Sping Forest Qigong
Hsin Tao
Hunyuan Qigong
Zhan Zhuang

Of course, the "Catch-22" here is that the prerequisite for these practices is having meridians already clear enough for qi to easily flow through. But if they were that sufficiently clear, you probably would not have gotten sick to begin with, lol!

Detoxing:

There are many forms of body cleanses and organ detoxing (herbal/nutritional, bodywork, etc). Probably far too many to list here, so you'll have to find what works for you? Just be careful to pace yourself with any detoxing regimens (especially with heavy metals), so as not to overtax your system or excretory organs in the process.

Immune Boosting:

Be sure to get plenty of sleep at an early hour (preferably by 9 PM) nightly and some minimal sunlight (for Vitamin D) regularly. Essentially rise and shine with the sun and go to bed with the night. And you may also try taking some general adaptogens like astragalus, insoluble (1,3/1,6) beta-glucan, suma root and Bioprin.

A blend of (21) Chinese Herbs to address viral infections. Given with early symptoms it will stop a viral infection in it's tracks. It is also effective with chronic viral conditions and provides some pain relief. BIOPRIN is primarily a pain killer that works faster and more powerfully than ibuprofen in managing pain and inflamation. BIOPRIN has no know side effects. BIOPRIN is an anti-biotic/anti-viral and, at the same time, an anti-yeast/anti-fungus. Which means that as an anti-biotic, BIOPRIN does not promote yeast infection as commonly seen in other antibiotics. BIOPRIN is an immune booster. The main mechanism of anti-inflammatory/analgesic activity is through the reinforcement and enhancement of immune function of patients. BIOPRIN recovers and enhances the immune function simultaneously with, or prior to anti-inflammatory/anti-biotic activity.

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07. Metaphysical Healing

If you want REAL healing, then you need to focus on the "personal" WHY more than just the "scientific" HOW of your disease. Uncomfortable feelings that haven't been fully felt often fester behind physical illness...

Health crises always help to refocus our attention back upon OURSELVES, to force us to soul search for these issues. How does the sickness make you feel, and were you trying to avoid that feeling before its onset? Was there a familiar pattern there? If so, keep pulling on that thread...and see what all you can dig up?

According to some metaphysical thought, bacterial infections are usually caused by guilt. Rashes are also often caused by shame, particularly related to sex (like wearing a "scarlet letter"). Of course, those are just some very over-generic explanations for illustration purposes. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provides a more detailed roadmap between anatomical locations, emotions, and spirit. But ultimately, each individual has specific issues that can only be roughly approximated (at best) by any general templates.

Also, keep in mind that these feelings are often subconscious or could even be emotional "karmic" baggage carried over from ancestral bloodlines or past lifetimes, as well. So, they may not be consciously obvious to the casual self-observer.

For professional help, there are various modalities, medical intuitives, energetic healers, shamans, and even entheogens that can help you excavate the roots of your ailments. May everyone find their own Path! Much of this therapy can be done remotely over the phone too, so you don't even necessarily have to find one in your local area.

And in lieu of all else, you can always simply PRAY HARD!!! :)

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06. Things To Avoid

As well as the do's, here's a few general don'ts:

Squeezing & Popping:

Be careful if attempting to squeeze pus out of boils or pimples not to possibly drive any pus or germs deeper into your body. The pus is highly contagious too - so be sure to keep any open boils covered and dispose of pus by double-bagging it first. Doesn't hurt to be extra-fastidious here..

Double-Dipping:

Only dip tissues or Q-tips into ointments once before each use. Do not re-dip it into your ointment after each use.

H2O2 & Alcohol:

I would beware of using hydrogen peroxide or alcohol to regularly disinfect your skin. Hydrogen peroxide can really dry it out. Alcohol can also somewhat, and always stings a lot too!

Tape:

Do not use masking or any other non-medical tape on your skin. They will likely rip layers off your skin (from high adhesion), gradually creating a secondary wound! Ideally, just wrap any bandages or use makeshift slings to keep them in place. But if you must use adhesive in an awkward area, be sure to use proper band-aids or medical tape only. You might even consider swiping the area down first with a little tea tree oil to weaken the adhesive bond.

DMSO:

DMSO is a powerful solvent that some may try to use in combination to deliver medicine deep past the skin's surface. However, because it will permeate and create openings through all barriers, its effects may be unpredictable. I'd probably avoid experimenting with this unless you somehow really know what you're doing.

Triclosan & Triclocarban:

These common antibacterial chemicals found in many household hygiene products now are generally strong enough to kill some bacteria...while breeding more resistance from all the survivors. In addition, Triclosan is a testosterone & thyroid hormone disruptor and Triclocarban boosts hormones. As a result, usage of these products will likely just make problems worse in the long run.

Contact Sports:

To avoid infecting yourself or others, do not participate in any "contact sports" unless both parties and the venue are Staph-free. This includes various sports, MMA, sex, and other activities involving sweaty, skin-to-skin contact in particular. Also be wary of gyms, used towels or any other athletic gear that isn't regularly laundered and cleaned. Remember, Staph ideally loves to live on skin or damp, hard surfaces (like gyms and bathrooms).

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05. Decontamination

Staph is a quorum-sensing bacteria. Which means that it "intelligently" uses teamwork to form biofilm colonies (like dental or arterial plaque). And once it does, it can then collectively launch a more virulent attack using its greater strength in numbers.

The significance of this for "decon" is that biofilms form most easily on warm, dank areas of the skin or hard surfaces (like toilet bowls). Which depending upon the surface material, may linger for some very appreciably long times!

MRSA survivors remained at detectable levels for 8 weeks on acrylic fingernails, 6 weeks on computer keyboard covers and 5 days on bed linen.

This is why skin disinfection is the top priority in fighting Staph. But, after that, bathrooms, locker rooms, and some kitchen areas probably come next. Surprisingly to some, fabrics come last here. Reason being that biofilms don't form well on dry fabrics (not that laundry should be ignored).

Also, if you happen to keep getting reinfections in the same area of your body - then likely either you have a stubborn colonization there or it may regularly be in sweaty or contact pressure against a particular, contaminated item. For example, a golf bag shoulder strap, other athletic equipment, or the front edge of your seat!

Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite/NaOCl):

Dilute with water in a spray bottle for ease-of-use. Note that once mixed with water, bleach breaks down into salts within about 24 hours. So, you have to make a new batch daily. In addition, note that bleach has a shelf life of six months and then "starts to degrade." Each year you keep the bleach around, it loses 20% of its effectiveness.

Byotrol

Employs spiky & extremely slippery microscopic coatings to kill or prevent bacterial colonization on surfaces.

Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2):

MMS or Selectrocide

Rubbing (Isopropyl) Alcohol:

Easiest method here is to dump a bottle of rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle and use as required. Germ Warfare is a mostly alcohol-based line of sanitation products.

Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2):

Also great to use in a spray bottle. And pour some of it in each laundry load too, along with some borax and baking soda as well..

Dry Steam:

The chemical-free, low-moisture heat is safe for all surfaces in your home AND safe for your family yet the technology is proven to be lethal to mold, mildew, dust mites and germs including MRSA, salmonella, type-A influenzas including H1N1, and staph among others. The dry steam vapor also has the ability to penetrate the microscopic pores in every surface and disinfect inside these pores, where even the strongest topical cleaners cannot reach.

EcoBox:

ActivePure is proven in University studies to kill up to 99.99% of bacteria, viruses, and mold on surfaces,* including MRSA antibiotic resistant Staph

Ozonated Water:

Sanitizing towels, linens, and surfaces with ozonated water has been shown to be extremely effective in the reduction of Staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria and its more drug-resistant and harder to treat strain known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Research and real world application studies conducted by members of the International Ozone Association (IOA), their customers and testing agencies have shown ambient temperature wash of laundry and surfaces with ozonated water to be effective at reducing pathogenic organisms including Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria and MRSA by up to 99.999999%.

UV:

Is certified to kill 99.99 per cent of the potentially deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu in five seconds, and harmful bacteria, such as MRSA, E.coli and salmonella, in 10 seconds.
By using "multi-wavelength" UV technology, combining UVA, UVB and UVC rays, manufacturers say the light is more effective than standard UV disinfection products at killing the DNA of viruses, bacteria and fungi.

Independent third party laboratory tests confirm that the Verilux CleanWave® UV-C Sanitizing Wand eliminates up to 99.9% of H1N1 and MRSA on surfaces. More broad based testing of UV-C light has shown it to be very effective at eliminating a vast array of viruses, bacteria, dust mites and mold on surfaces.

Steri-X:

The world's finest biocidal solution proven to kill pathogenic bacteria, including the MRSA 'superbug' (99.99% = 5 log reduction within 30 seconds)

NTU Virus Bom

The NTU Virus Bom compound can kill nano-virus and micro-bacteria at the same time

Ingenium:

CleanWell’s proprietary, fast-acting, broad-spectrum antimicrobial active ingredient created from a patented blend of natural thyme and other essential plant oils.

Copper:

The University of Southampton team found the superbug was unable to survive on copper alloy surfaces for longer than 90 minutes.
yellow brass rendered the bacteria completely harmless after four and a half hours.
Copper alloys were the best, destroying MRSA in as little as an hour and a half.

You'll notice that one of the main classes of disinfectants are oxidants (bleach, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, EcoBox, ozonated water, UV, etc). This is because their chemical reactions strip away enough electrons to kill germs...while stressing, but not killing our body cells (which are usually much larger).

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Medicinal Silver

Silver is not just a precious metal - but also an antimicrobial element that destroys pathogens on contact by oxidizing them. Of course, it can be hard (and real expensive!) to swallow big "silver bullets." So to aid ingestion and potency, it is reduced to microscopic particles and mixed into water to form a tasteless liquid. And unlike many pharmaceutical antibiotics, it basically has no side effects.

Comparison Claims

Now, medicinal silver comes in various forms, such as ionic, colloidal, angstrom or nano silver. As far as which type is REALLY the most effective, that's a corporate battlefield with no clear winner... So here's a few comments on each one to help you decide:

Ionic

Ordinary ionic silver is produced by electrolysis and forms a clear silver solution that must be stored in dark bottles.

Whereas, Natural-Immunogenics's Sovereign Silver or Argentyn 23 ionic silver are Ag+ silver ions in a colloidal suspension.

Sovereign Silver has specifically tested "very effective" in vitro against Staph and Argentyn 23 claims to be superior to Mesosilver colloidal silver.

Colloidal

But here's a random testimonial for Mesosilver colloidal silver's effectiveness:

Well, I've come back from Las Vegas with a bad cough. I ALWAYS get a cough when staying in the Las Vegas hotels because of the dry, recirculating air. I never seem to get it anywhere else, so since it was time to start my own anti-microbial detox routine, I simply put some MesoSilver in a nebulizer, as I mentioned in the Taoist antimicrobial detox, and started inhaling it.

My gosh -- my chest feels like it's twice as large inside! Nebulizing the silver for the lungs enabled it to reach deep inside and kill off colonies of critters that have probably been there for years due to past cases of bronchitis, pneumonia, whatever. You tissues usually seal off infections they cannot deal with, but when you kill the infections with Mesosilver, there's no reason for the tissues to restrict themselves any longer. The infections die off, tissues expand, your energy comes up, life changes for the better.

My gosh I'm filled with energy after just 3 days. Your breath is related to your chi, and that's probably why I don't feel hungry at all and feel stronger than I have in ages. Amazing. All just from starting to kill off the critters in the lungs, and I'm only on day 3!

A friend told me his mom used the very same protocol and finally destroyed a mild, persistant cough she's had for 40 years, probably from exposure to tuberculosis as a child. Now she smiles all the time, her eyes are bright as a baby's and she has no more coughing or chest pains. Another friend in Asia reported a similar story of chasing out long term infections, and she's supplementing the MesoSilver routine with tapping on her gall bladder meridian, as I reported several weeks back for cancer.

This protocol works.
Bill

Angstrom

BellaVida Super "Angstrom" Silver claims that "by being 96.8% bio-available to the body, Super Silver is 200 to 300 times more effective than most commercially available colloidal silvers" and that it "combines organic, plant derived silver with bio-active frequencies which disrupts every known pathogen's ability to produce disease within 20 seconds after digesting." It can be purchased here.

Nano

Well, if Merck and other Big Pharma companies want to ban it as a pesticide...it must obviously work!

Recently it was revealed that a handful of the activist agencies behind the petition to the EPA to regulate nano-silver as a pesticide have received funding from pharmaceutical giant Merck, which annually has hundreds of billions of dollars in profits from patented antibioics which many believe are less effective, less safe and far more expensive than colloidal nano-silver products.

nanocrystalline silver dressings were found to provide a complete, or almost complete, barrier to the penetration/spread of MRSA in 95% of readings. In addition, 67% of all wound observations showed a decrease in the MRSA load with an eradication rate of 11%.

Conclusion

Again, it's hard to find a conclusive answer here, so you may just have to experiment with a few choices on your own. But hopefully, some of the information here will at least help you make those choices a bit better..

04. Internal Medicine

Here are some ingestible supplements that will help support your healing internally. I'd say the first handful are probably the most effective, but every bit helps!

Bactestat (with Staph "vibe" added):

is a homeopathic remedy that supports the body's detoxification from various bacterial infections. With the Staph "vibe" added, this will specifically include Staph as well..

Garlic:

Crushed raw garlic is a very powerful antibiotic, but it must be applied to the site of the infection, including Staph and Strep, to be effective. It will burn like fire for a minute or two but it is the best way I know of to kill staph, including MRSA without a prescription medicine. Most importantly, garlic will still kill strains of staph that have become immune to modern antibiotics, including MRSA, because it kills in a different way and the bacteria cannot become immune to it, But it must be applied in one form or another to the site of the infection.

It is best to let crushed raw garlic set for 7 or 14 minutes before using so that it can form the maximum amount of allicin in order to have greater antibacterial properties. The reason is that crushing garlic forms sulfenic acid (thus the burning sensation) which steadily breaks down into allicin, the highly antibiotic compound that kills bacteria. For reasons not clearly understood, every 6 and 1/4 minutes or so there is a rapid dramatic increase in the rate of conversion for about 30 seconds and then it drops off to normal again for another 6 and 1/4 minute cycle and then it sharply increases again for another 30 seconds or so and again drops back to the normal rate. By waiting seven minutes, you benefit from the first great wave and by waiting 14 minutes, you get the extra boost of the second surge.

Allicin:

Allimed is physician's strength stabilized allicin from garlic. It is a powerful natural antibiotic that combats MRSA, Lyme, C-Diff, Strep and other resistant infections. This is the first time in history that allicin in garlic has been stabilized. Allicin is the natural antibiotic property of garlic.

Turmeric:

Without a doubt, the spice turmeric is the very best remedy to take when you have boils, staph infections, or MRSA. Unfortunately, while turmeric will cure an outbreak of boils, it will NOT cure MRSA. A daily dose of turmeric will only prevent future MRSA outbreaks if you also follow a strict alkaline diet by monitoring your pH.

Turmeric really helps with the inflammation and seems to help the pus dry up...one of the best results we've seen.

Medicinal Silver:

Colloidal silver has proven to be toxic to all tested species of fungi, bacteria, protozoa, parasites and many viruses. More importantly—unlike conventional antibiotics—infectious agents, cannot build a resistance to silver.
Taken internally, it may improve digestion, help prevent colds, flu and all organism-caused diseases. It can be used as a douche, atomized, nebulized or inhaled.

Olive Leaf:

The best-known phytochemical in olive leaves is oleuropein, a very potent antimicrobial medicine that also has natural anti-viral properties.

Oil Of Oregano:

Of the hundreds of different essential oils, oregano oil is well documented and best known for controlling bacterial infections. It’s been used as a natural MRSA and Staph treatment. In fact, I consider oregano to be one of the “big gun” essential oils for controlling infections like Staph and MRSA

But you won’t find therapeutic grade oregano oil in your kitchen spice cabinet, or even your local health food store. True oregano oil comes from the plant species Oregano vulgare, which is often confused with kitchen oregano or oregano marjoram. Unlike kitchen oregano, the true oil contains natural chemical ingredients that include carvacrol, thymol, terpenes, rosemarinic and naringin. These natural ingredients give the oil its potent antibacterial and healing properties.

Oil of oregano at relatively low doses was found to be efficacious against Staphylococcus bacteria (the bacteria responsible for MRSA) and was comparable in its germ-killing properties to antibiotic drugs such as streptomycin, penicillin and vancomycin.

Carvacrol is a powerful bacteria killer that’s strongly active against Staph and MRSA infections as well as yeasts and molds. A carvacrol content of 70% or more can be strongly therapeutic. However, natural carvacrol content this high is very uncommon and hard to find in most commercial oregano oil products. Almost all oregano essential oils sold today are too dilute to be of help against MRSA or Staph

The MRSA super-bug could be wiped out using natural oil from oregano, scientists revealed today.

Researchers have discovered that the herb, commonly used in cooking, could eradicate the deadly infection from hospital wards.

Tiny quantities of carvacrol, a naturally occurring compound in oregano, were found to be a more effective antimicrobial agent than 18 pharmaceutical drugs, investigators found.

Preliminary research into the oil found that tiny doses are capable of wiping out fungi and bacteria, including MRSA.

Researchers found that the oil still works at boiling temperature, meaning it could be used for disinfecting hospital sheets.

Its vapour is equally effective and could be turned into an antibacterial spray.

Biolaya led the research in northern India, said: ‘Himalayan oregano oil kills MRSA at dilution’s of less than one to 1,000 and the antimicrobial properties, unlike most conventional anti-bacterial agents, are not affected by heat treatment.

'Preliminary tests show that oregano oil is very effective against MRSA in really quite low doses.

'A small amount will kill MRSA and also the vapour will kill the bacteria.

Iodine:

Iodine is a basic element, as are calcium, zinc, oxygen and other elements. The word “iodine” usually refers to two iodine molecules chemically “stuck together” (I2), just as the word “oxygen” usually refers to two oxygen molecules “stuck together” (O2). Since iodine is more reactive, and therefore more likely to cause problems, iodine is usually used as “iodide”, a word which refers to one iodine molecule combined with another molecule such as potassium (KI) or sodium (NaI).

The “SS” in “SSKI” refers to “Saturated Solution Potassium Iodide”. Other medically useful forms of iodine include “Lugol’s solution”, invented by Dr. Lugol of Paris in the 1840s, which contains a mixture of types of iodine and iodide, and “di-atomic iodine”, which is another name for iodine, but usually prepared as a solid in a capsule instead of a liquid.

Older readers may remember Mother putting “iodine” on cuts and scrapes. It kept infection away as well as any “modern” antibiotic ointment, with the added benefit of not inducing “bacterial resistance”.

There are three “hazards” to using SSKI: staining, allergy, and a very small possibility of thyroid suppression with longer-term use of “too much”.

in my experience with over a thousand individuals, internal use of than nine drops of SSKI daily has or less has very rarely resulted in thyroid suppression

An open clinical study was performed to know the therapeutic value of the Potassium Iodide administered in saturated solution form (SSKI) for the treatment of recurrent staphylococcal skin infections.

It is considered that the SSKI is useful for the treatment of recurrent staphylococcal skin infections. The SSKI does not create bacterial resistance and it preserves the employment of antibiotics for other more serious infections.

MMS:

Step one to treating any MRSA or staph infection is to start the sick person on MMS Protocol 1000. Protocol 1000 is having the sick person take 3 drops of activated MMS every hour for 8 hours a day. The MMS must always be activated with one drop of 50% citric acid for each drop of MMS.

(Ok, I really haven't found a lot of convincing testimonials for internal MMS usage successfully treating MRSA - so it may just be better reserved for topical application.)

Ozonated Fluids:

Ozone, 03 instead of 02, is highly reactive against bacteria, and when applied to boils or wounds can kill the MRSA Ozone has the capability to move through tissues and will move through a compromised tissue faster than normal tissue. When a heat pack is applied to the surface of the skin ozone will move through it rapidly due to increased circulation. With limb bagging this has shown not to be necessary. Only wetting the limb is required.

If I had a MRSA wound I would get an ozone machine right away. Most cases of ozone applied to wounds or boils only required a few days of treatment. If the wound is opened for drainage and cleaning it is the optimal time to apply ozone

I got this [ozonated olive oil] for my wife's staph infection/MRSA and we were both very skeptical at first as other treatments didn't work very well and when antibiotics did work the side effects were not good. This Ozonated Olive Oil has worked wonders on both my wife and sister.

The best thing for a boil that I found was Ozonated Olive Oil, wow this stuff works great! It takes about a week of applying the stuff twice a day, and relief is almost instant

Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2):

There are two methods of hydrogen peroxide therapy. One is to simply drink food grade hydrogen peroxide diluted in water. Food grade hydrogen peroxide is 35% strength and very powerful, as compared to your local grocery store variety which is only 3%, so don't ever drink it without diluting it.

The other method is intravenously, injecting it straight into the body. The reason why this is done is because many harmful diseases and conditions, such as cancer and aids, are anaerobic, meaning that they can't handle an oxygen rich environment. Studies have shown that when hydrogen peroxide is injected in large enough quantities around a cancerous area, the cancer cells die. When introduced into the blood stream, hydrogen peroxide therapy seems to have great results against almost every ailment. It was first used in the bloodstream in the early 1900's to fight against influenza.

benefits of drinking food grade hydrogen peroxide is that it is effective against removing toxins from the system. Adding a few drops to a glass of pure water an hour before a meal will allow the stomach to process the hydrogen peroxide and utilize it in the body.

Too much of a good thing is almost always bad. Do not ever attempt to give yourself intravenous hydrogen peroxide therapy.

Never use H2O2 at more then 8% solution, if anyone were to drink 35% H2O2 neat, they would die in agony.

I tested it up to 12%, at which time I felt my oesophagus start to burn, and needed to drink 1 litre of Aloe Vera juice to restore balance, I never prescribe anything that I have not tested, so believe me when I say 8% is the absolute maximum to BUILD UP TO.

Start with 1%,then build to 2% etc. until you find it unpalatable.

Proponents of oxidative or "hyperoxygenation" therapy believe that many diseases including cancer and HIV can be linked to oxygen deficiency. They say that infusion or even ingestion of substances such as hydrogen peroxide, ozone and germanium sesquioxide deliver an "oxidative burst" that can kill cancer cells and viruses, and boost the immune system.

But health experts say injecting hydrogen peroxide directly into the bloodstream can cause convulsions, acute anemia and deadly gas emboli.

Five days after the birth of my third child, Hugo, I was diagnosed with seven different bacterial infections. No one could figure out why/how they occurred, but the most serious involved two bacterial infections in my blood (sepsis) and also a bacterial lung infection (pneumonia).
Intravenous Hydrogen Peroxide, 10 sessions, every other day. This is the heavy-hitter antibiotic and although it gave me headaches on the day of treatment, it was well worth it.
Not only did the infection clear completely and the fluid drain completely from my lungs, but there is also no residual scarring. It is now 4 years later and I have also not had pneumonia or any other bronchial infection occur during the winter.

Vitamin C:

The benefits of using vitamin C together with antibiotics are considerable. high dose vitamin C greatly improves the efficacy of antibiotics. Similarly, since Wild Oregano Oil is also an antibiotic, it too should be potentized if taken with high doses of vitamin C.
In humans, an astoundingly high 120,000 mg/day (nearly 2,000 times the RDA) of vitamin C delivered intravenously has been demonstrated to accelerate healing of burned skin in a blinded clinical trial.
There are now dozens strains of antibiotic resistant bacteria. They are estimated to kill about 100,000 Americans per year, more than AIDS, breast cancer, and auto accidents combined. High potency vitamin supplementation can prevent many of these deaths and speed recovery.
For improved at-home management of respiratory infections, extra vitamin C, vitamin D and niacin should be taken

Vitamin D:

New research now shows that low serum vitamin D levels increase the risk of nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). An estimated 2.7 million people in the U.S. are MRSA nasal carriers.

The relationship held even after adjusting for age, race, recent antibiotic usage, recent hospitalization, and poverty. This means that vitamin D status could be a modifiable risk factor for MRSA carriage and potentially MRSA infection.

San Pedro Cactus:

Echinopsis pachanoi contains hordenine and ". . .it has been shown that hordenine, N, N-Dimethyl-hydroxyphenylethylamine, exhibits an inhibitory action against at least 18 strains of penicillin resistant Staphylococcus bacteria."

Elecampane:

CIT researchers found that Elecampane, also called Horse-heal (Inula helenium) or Marchalan, is 100% effective against MRSA colonies

Pulsatilla vulgaris:

Pulsatilla vulgaris or pasque flower, were tested against 300 different varieties of staphylococci bacteria, including MRSA. P. vulgaris also proved "highly effective" against MRSA, according to an article in the "Irish Examiner."

Green Tea:

Knowing that green tea catechins possess strong antibacterial activity, researchers in Japan decided to test the catechins’ ability to wage war against this formidable bacteria. They recruited 72 disabled patients, average age 78, who showed the presence of MRSA in their sputum and divided them into two groups. One group used a nebulizer to inhale 2 ml of tea catechin extract mixed with a saltwater solution, while the control group inhaled the saltwater solution alone. Treatments were given three times a day for seven days.

At the study’s end, about half of those inhaling the catechin solution showed a decrease in levels of MRSA, compared to just 15% of those who didn’t receive the catechins. And the decrease of MRSA in the catechin group was almost three times greater than it was in the control group (31% as opposed to 12%).

Green tea can help beat superbugs according to Egyptian scientists speaking 31 March 2008 at the Society for General Microbiology's 162nd meeting held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

The pharmacy researchers have shown that drinking green tea helps the action of important antibiotics in their fight against resistant superbugs, making them up to three times more effective.

drinking green tea at the same time as taking the medicines seemed to reduce the bacteria's drug resistance, even in superbug strains, and increase the action of the antibiotics. In some cases, even a low concentration of green tea was effective.

Probiotics:

many true fermented foods that contain beneficial bacteria (such as natural yoghurt, live kefir (see the recipes page), sauerkraut, kombucha, miso etc.

Enterococcus species are prominent facultative anaerobic, beneficial, lactic bacteria. They are fermenting to produce Lactic acid but are not gas producing. They are able to survive in relatively harsh environments. They provide antimicrobial activity against the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureas (MRSA) bacteria and also inhibit the growth of food-borne pathogenic bacteria and other microorganisms.

Health Canada (the Canadian version of the FDA that also monitors natural foods supplements in Canada) will not allow “probiotic” products containing Enterrococus faecium and Enterrococus faecalis into the country because “certain [so-called] probiotic bacteria have been associated with human illness and have a high-risk of developing antibiotic resistance and are not suited for use as probiotics

I recommend products that contain probiotics from the Lactobacillus genus or the Bifidobacteria genus. All species from these two genera are safe at any level. Be wary of labels claiming to contain species from the Bacillus genus, such as Bacillus coagulans, as they are spore-forming organisms and give cause for serious safety concerns.

Sustenex® contains BC30 (Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086), a special strain of probiotic bacteria that is able to survive stomach acids to reach the digestive tract where they offer the greatest benefit. Plus, clinical trials show that BC30 can help with various digestive discomforts and boost the immune system.

scientific studies prove that glucuronic acid works hard to help pull environmental and metabolic toxins from our bodies before they wear our bodies out. Glucuronic acid also helps the body produce a very important group of polysaccharides which build strong connective tissue and cartilage, stimulate T-cell production and increase cellular immunity. Our Kombucha Tea® also contains a full complement of B vitamins to give you stamina, energy, vitality and strength, plus folic acid to help keep your nervous system healthy.

Zapper:

I did get rid of a Staph aureus infection using the zapper when antibiotics failed. It was not identified as MRSA however. I used a ParaZapper MX which is not available any longer. While there is definitely a difference in zappers, you should have good results using most any zapper on 2500 Hz for 10 minutes on, 15 minutes off, repeat 5 times, twice a day. It should work with antibiotics and it is best to continue taking them as prescribed.

I've completed 3 weeks of zapping skipped a week and I'm now into my second round now. I have a staph infection in my right foot for nearly 4 years that medical doctors couldn't cure with antibiotics. At this point it is draining a lot less from the small sore & seems to be drying up. Maybe 25% healing but thats better than any doctor has done for me!

The zapper even kills MRSA. I know, I had quite a hole in my leg and with the zapper on it it healed up fast. I was concerned about it spreading but it didn't. MRSA is a very serious thing and the zapper got rid of it all (it wasn't the antibiotics that is for sure). Even the doctor was amazed. He said he never seen MRSA and a wound heal so fast before.

We have observed problems with the Terminator zapper. We do not recommend it for the following reasons.

(This never seemed to work much for me, though?)

Marik's HAT/ACTS Protocol:

Now, the preceding remedies were largely for helping to treat external infections. But once an infection has gone internal, it's a whole 'nother ball game...so, batter up! For an internal (septic) infection, you may also consider trying a variation of Dr. Paul Marik's HAT/ACTS cocktail composed of the corticosteroid hydrocortisone (optional?), Vitamin C (containing ascorbic acid), and thiamine (Vitamin B1). Similar combinations are often available at your local IV spa...

The components of Marik’s life-saving sepsis cocktail are simply steroids and vitamins, a therapy, which many have said is harmless, but may improve sepsis survival dramatically. Steroids for sepsis have been around decades, and although there have been several trials evaluating its benefits in the septic patient; it is safe to say that the use of steroids remains controversial. The recently completed HYPRESS trial did not demonstrate a benefit for steroids in patients with sepsis. How about the use of vitamin C and thiamine?
The paper goes on to discuss and hypothesize how the combination of vitamin C, hydrocortisone, and thiamine works. The gist of their discussion, however, is that instead of one drug working on a single pathway in sepsis, the combination of these three drugs affects multiple pathways with the added benefit of an overlapping and synergistic effect. The exact dosing strategy for Vitamin C is unknown, as it is not been well studied. The authors conclude that up to 6 grams daily should be enough without running the risk of conversion to oxalate and potentially causing worsening renal impairment from oxalate crystal formation and renal deposition. The authors’ hypothesis is that vitamin C, hydrocortisone, and thiamine have synergistic effects that reverse vasoplegic shock and potentially limit the duration of vasopressor treatment resulting in a reduction in organ and limb ischemia from the vasopresors themselves. No patients in the treatment group died from complications related to sepsis, rather their mortality was secondary to complications of their underlying disease.

The combination of thiamine, ascorbic acid, and hydrocortisone has recently emerged as a potential adjunctive therapy to antibiotics, infectious source control, and supportive care for patients with sepsis and septic shock. Prior studies have found that plasma and cellular levels of ascorbic acid decline rapidly during critical illness. Similar to thiamine, ascorbic acid deficiency syndrome (scurvy) bears a number of similarities to sepsis, including malaise, coagulation abnormalities, and endothelial wall breakdown

Pharmaceutical Antibiotics:

If you choose to try this route, see here.

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Bacteriophage Therapy

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and attack bacteria. They are estimated to be the most widely distributed and diverse entities in the biosphere. One of the densest natural sources for phages and other viruses is sea water, where up to 9×108 virions per milliliter have been found in microbial mats at the surface, and up to 70% of marine bacteria may be infected by phages.

They have been used for over 60 years as an alternative to antibiotics in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. They are seen as a possible therapy against multi drug resistant strains of many bacteria.

Now, due to their limited usage and availability, they are unfortunately not the most convenient or affordable therapy out there. (Hopefully, this will change if the West adopts and further develops this approach too.) But, they are potentially a permanent cure for patients with basically no side effects.

Source: Polish Academy of Sciences
Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy
Centre of Excellence since October 2002

Results of bacteriophage treatment (1307 cases)

1307 patients with suppurative bacterial infections caused by multidrug resistant bacteria of different species were treated with specific bacteriophages (BP). BP therapy was highly effective; full recovery was noted in 1123 cases (85.9%). In 134 cases (10.9%) transient improvement was observed and only in 50 cases (3.8%) BP treatment was found to be ineffective. The results confirm the high effectiveness of BP therapy in combating bacterial infections which do not respond to treatment with all available antibiotics.

2311 out of 2433 bacterial isolates (95%) of Staphylococcus were sensitive to the set of phages.

Typical cost:

Out-patient care: $2,500.00 - $7,500.00
In-patient care: $5,000.00 - $20,000

Normally, it can take up to 4 weeks from receipt of your samples and reports to complete our laboratory analysis.

So, it's not a cheap therapy (although cheap compared to hospital stays) yet, and the logistical process can take a month or more. However, it has a high success rate and is essentially a cure, not just a management treatment..

And, the Phage Therapy Center can even import to you your phages without you having to fly to Tbilisi, Georgia in person - as long as you get your doctor's prescription for that.

Although I'm not sure if this would decrease the cost of the treatment any - or if the out-patient estimate already assumes this..

03. Skin Disinfection

The frontlines of this war will be fought on your skin. Staph is naturally a skin bacteria, and that is where it's evolved to survive best. It digs its trenches in there, like athlete's foot. So, germicidal topicals will be your primary weapon in this battle.

Note that diluted dosages (as often found in antibacterial soaps) should be avoided here - as they will likely just breed yet more resistance. So, all of these products should be used at full strength for adequate periods to ensure full kill-offs. Because if you don't kill 'em all, you will only make 'em stronger in the long run!

Tea tree oil or bleach should be what you apply locally & immediately to any suspected infection. Manuka oil is another strong option, but it is also pricier... Or, you could even make your own mix with these and/or various other essential oils also known to fight Staph including lemongrass, geranium, thyme, cinnamon, oregano, clove, lavender, etc.!

Initially, you may want to do a full body wash using the cheapest option - bleach. I recommend taking some long, warm bleach baths that will open and penetrate your follicles and pores - and really dig down into the trenches there. After that though, I would probably use probiotic soaps regularly as the more sustainable, long-term approach.

Anyhow, here is a shopping list of these topicals mentioned, plus some others (natural & synthetic) as well:

Tea Tree (Melaleuca) Oil:

a combination of geranium and tea tree oil was most active against the methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (Oxford strain).

Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite):

The researchers suggest that a five-minute soak in a bleach solution consisting of 2.5 mcL of bleach diluted into 13 gallons of water, or about one-half cup of bleach diluted into a 50-gallon standard tub filled one-quarter with water, could decrease CA-MRSA colonies by more than 99.9%.

bleach has a shelf life of six months and then "starts to degrade." Each year you keep the bleach around, it loses 20% of its effectiveness

Manuka Oil:

Manuka Oil was 20-30 times more active than Australian Tea Tree Oil for gram positive bacteria

Allicin:

"Allicin is considered to be the most potent antibacterial agent in crushed garlic extracts." Additionally, allicin has been found to successfully penetrate a "biofilm," referred to by researchers as "slime cities."

The US Centers for Disease Control, and Prevention estimates that, "65% of all human bacterial infections involve biofilms.

Bacteria living outside the biofilms are a thousand times more likely to be killed by antibiotics than bacteria living inside these slime cities." Allicin is known to seek them out and kill them

Medicinal Silver:

If colloidal silver works like this study suggests, it has some major advantages of other antibiotics. Instead of simply inhibiting MRSA, it appears to actually kill the bacteria over time. This would give the bacteria less of a chance to evolve so quickly.

PURE Bioscience signed an agreement licensing Ciba Specialty Chemicals to market and sell its silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC) antimicrobial.

The water-soluble silver salt technology of PURE Bioscience is an excellent tool for formulators in personal care and household industries to improve the preservation and bactericidal properties of their formulations.

SDC is an electrolytically generated source of stabilized ionic silver that can serve as the basis for a broad range of products in diverse markets. Colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-caustic, the aqueous microbial formulates well with other compounds.

Axen30, PURE's first commercialized SDC product, is a powerful hard surface disinfectant whose efficacy exceeds that of most leading commercial and consumer products while maintaining a lower toxicity rating. Its EPA registered claims include a 30-second kill time and a 24-hour residual kill on standard indicator bacteria, a 2-minute kill time on some resistant strains of bacteria including MRSA and VRE, 10-minute kill time on fungi, 30-second kill time on HIV Type I, and 10-minute kill time on other viruses.

Oxychlorine:

Microcyn is a super-oxygenated water claimed to be as effective a disinfectant as chlorine bleach, but is harmless to people, animals and plants.

Probiotic Soap:

I bought this soap on a hunch that a topical probiotic product might help with my skin problems. I am terribly prone to MRSA lesions, particularly on my legs, and antibiotic after antibiotic was not the answer. I started using this soap each time I shower (along with the SK1N body lotion) about three months ago and have not had an infection since I started. This is a BIG deal. It's hard to say for sure that this soap is the only factor in my skin's improvement, but I'm taking it! It's also helped with my eczema, has a nice lather and no off-putting smell. Definitely worth the money.

Ideally, you would only apply disinfectants locally just to "snipe" infections, while using probiotics widely to strengthen your overall resistance. This would probably be the best tactic for using both antimicrobials and probiotics together.

Bacteriophage Therapy:

A bacteriophage (from 'bacteria' and Greek φαγεῖν phagein "to devour") is any one of a number of viruses that infect bacteria. Bacteriophages are among the most common biological entities on Earth.

Lemongrass:

An in vitro study on the inhibition of MRSA by essential oil diffusion found that 72 of 91 investigated essential oils exhibited zones of inhibition in soy agar plates streaked with MRSA (strain ATCC 700699). The most effective being lemongrass oil (Cymbopogon flexuosus), lemon myrtle oil (Backhousia citriodora), mountain savory oil (Satureja montana), cinnamon oil (Cinnamomum verum), and melissa oil (Melissa officinalis) essential oils. Of these, lemongrass essential oil was the most effective, completely inhibiting all MRSA colony growth.

Grapefruit Seed Extract:

A combination of Citricidal (grapefruit seed extract) and geranium oil showed the greatest-anti-bacterial effects against MRSA

Grapefruit seed extract has been used to combat bird flu in the past and scientific studies have shown it is also effective against MRSA.

There have been a number of scientific studies showing it kills bacteria. But unlike synthetic antibiotics it doesn't take out friendly bacteria. And it covers a broad spectrum of ailments rather than traditional antibiotics that tend to work on specific areas.

Byotrol:

Glasgow Royal Infirmary reduced its MRSA outbreaks by 50 per cent by using Byotrol in tests run by infections expert Professor Curtis Gemmell of Glasgow University.

Byotrol differs from other disinfectants by leaving a film on surfaces that stops bacteria setting down and multiplying.

it creates an incredibly hostile environment for all microbes, yet on skin it does not strip away the natural oils.

Chlorine Dioxide:

Spray with topical MMS.
Or you can activate 2 drops of MMS (no water) and put in a container that just fits over the boil and press against the skin allowing the gas fumes to go over the boil. Depending on the state of the boil, puss may be discharged. Take MMS orally 3 drops for a few days.

Selectrocide chlorine dioxide can also be used on hard, non-porous surfaces in health clubs, spas, public places and swimming facilities as a treatment against MRSA.

MRSA on hard surfaces is easy to eliminate with a chlorine dioxide solution of 30 PPM. It takes about 60 seconds to kill it off. It is more difficult to remove from skin because of its texture and the flora on the skin interacts with chlorine dioxide using it up to a point where little is left to react with the infection.

LED:

Both visible red, blue and “invisible” infrared light effect at least 24 positive changes at the cellular level. Red light, which is visible, at a wavelength of 640 nanometers, penetrates tissue to a depth of about 8-10 mm. It is very beneficial in treating issues close to the surface such as wounds, cuts, scars, trigger and acupuncture points and is particularly effective in treating infections. Infrared light (880 nm) penetrates to a depth of about 30-50 mm, which makes it more effective for bones, joints, deep muscle, etc.

Can anyone explain why a 470 nm blue light in a form of disinfection or treatment in hospitals, nursing homes, even patients, haven’t been adopted yet?

A research was published back in January of 2009, which clearly demonstrated and reported a natural, visible and safe form of blue light Killed two strands of MRSA bacteria in-vitro. The Research suggested the same or similar results could be obtained in-vivo, meaning patients can be treated above or below the skin.

French Green Clay (Agricur):

The clay killed up to 99 per cent of superbug colonies within 24 hours. Control samples of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) grew 45-fold in the same period.

(I would avoid using this in baths or showers though, as it will slowly clog your plumbing...)

Chlorhexidine:

It's (conventionally) recommended to initially cover yourself from head to toe with Hibiclens in the shower for 10 days in a row. Do this with the water off and let it stand a few minutes. In general, the longer the contact time, the more germs will get killed. Hibiclens goes on slick and seems to do a fair job of reaching medium-depth Staph, but may not get absorbed deeply enough in the skin to get the more embedded ones (like bleach or tea tree oil). So, it may be good for broad coverage, but you may still have to follow-up locally with tea tree oil or something else more penetrative. Also, keep in mind that Hibiclens could theoretically also breed further resistance...(so I'm not sure I would personally recommend this one).

PuraCleen:

This line of sanitizing products includes ingredients like benzalkonium chloride, alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides, alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chlorides, octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, etc.

(Ok, now say those 10 times fast!)

Coconut Oil:

Externally, coconut oil can be used as skin lotion which creates a protective barrier on the skin.

Coconut oil acts with compounds on our skin to create an acidic surface that is inhospitable to pathogens. When this barrier is in place, very few pathogens are found on our skin. Our bodies have this acidic barrier naturally, but soap frequently washes it away. This leaves us open to problems that enter the body through the skin - including MRSA.

Hot Water:

Hot water in the shower will help increase circulation..

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02. Basic Protocol

Ok, so let's say you suspect you have a Staph infection, what do you do now???

Well, here's the basic protocol in a nutshell:

1) Tea Tree Oil:

Apply tea tree oil regularly to the infection. Use a new square of facial tissue (Kleenex) each time and don't double-dip. Keep reapplying until it finally disappears (this may take an hour to days). This generally works well when the infection is still just a red dot or a whitehead. Another natural option here is manuka oil - but it's fairly pricier (albeit much stronger too).

2) Bleach Swab:

For something a little stronger, dip a Q-tip in bleach and you may (optionally) swipe or hold it very briefly it under a trickle of water to dilute it a bit. Then, swab this topically onto the infection site. You can lightly rub it into small folliculitis spots for a few minutes until they stop stinging (rather than just dabbing it on quickly once). Now, bleach is of course somewhat caustic to your skin, so you may not want to apply it more than 3 days in a row..

3) Body Washing:

You may try taking some warm, diluted bleach baths as an initial shotgun approach. Soak (for maybe ~3 days straight) about an hour each time to let the chlorine really absorb into your pores and follicles - where Staph loves to hide out the most. And obviously, don't make the bleach solution too strong or get it in your eyes.

You just have to find a balance between killing the germs and drying out your skin too bad. But do note that bleach breaks down into salts in about 24 hours, so it's not as harsh a chemical as one might think. Which also means that you must make a fresh new batch before each usage...

And to help osmotically "suck out" toxins, you may also want add some epsom salt, sea salt, baking soda, & borax into your bath as well.

But, "sniping" spots with Q-tips may be a more effective strategy in the long run - as it's easier and won't wipe out all the probiotics covering your body, too. A few initial "clean sweep" baths may still be a good idea, though.

4) Internal Medicine:

Take Bactestat (with Staph "vibe" added) homeopathic remedy, BellaVida Super "Angstrom" Silver and Allimed/Allimax caps daily. Also eat a lot of raw garlic (up to a clove) and a few tablespoons of tumeric powder per day. You can eat the garlic mostly at night to minimize bad breath and dissolve the turmeric in water for easier consumption. You can buy turmeric capsules, but it's much cheaper in the bulk foods section. For (internal) sepsis, you may want to try Dr. Paul Marik's HAT/ACTS cocktail or something similar. And there's also some additional herbs, supplements, and information listed in this section.

5) Decontamination:

You must also "decon" (disinfect) your personal environment to remove any Staph that migrated there. This includes any sports equipment, home & bath, car, office space, clothing, etc. Mainly, the key areas to focus on are dank, hard surfaces where biofilms tend to form best - like in particular, your bathroom. Diluted bleach spray, alcohol and Byotrol are some good options here. I would also wash your clothes, bedsheets and towels frequently with hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and borax added in.

6) Lance & Drain:

If the infection is a spider bite-sized boil and is not subsiding with the bleach or tea tree oil, you may have to go to a clinic to get it surgically-lanced & drained. Lancing, popping or squeezing any boil yourself runs a possible risk of causing cellulitis or septic infection, so I wouldn't recommend DIY operations here. In any case, after any boil has been lanced, be sure to keep it covered up as the pus leaking out is rather contagious.

For simple abscesses up to 5 cm, incision and drainage are just as effective as adding an antibiotic (Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 2004;23:123-7). "If it's a simple abscess, do drainage,"

7) Wound Care:

I recommend holding any bandage in place with wrapping or a makeshift sling, rather than tape. The reason why is that tape left on the skin continuously for days may eventually rip the skin off in that area, leading to a secondary wound. But if you must use adhesive in an awkward area, be sure to use proper band-aids or medical tape. And if those are sticking too strongly, you might consider swiping the area down first with a little tea tree oil to weaken the adhesive bond.

8) Testing:

There is no foolproof test to tell if you have totally eradicated Staph off your entire body. You can take a nasal swab test for MRSA because it often colonizes there, but that does not guarantee there is none elsewhere on you. So, there could always be some false negatives. But, if you have gone for at least many months or a few years without any recurrences and all your skin and follicles look really clear (no dark or purplish spots), then you're probably Staph-free. Time is ultimately probably the best test here.

9) Time:

MRSA seems like Athlete's Foot or household mold. If you treat it properly and dilligently, it should keep diminishing over time until it eventually stops recurring at all. If successful, your outbreaks should be steadily decreasing in both severity (shrinking in size from boils to whiteheads to folliculitis and limited to more narrrowly confined areas) and frequency. Note that it may take 1-2 years (or even more or less) to totally peeter out to "zero" on this downward curve. (Of course, this duration is highly-variable depending upon many, many factors.)

I also suspect that your immune system may slowly build up some immunity to it meanwhile, as well. That may be 1 tiny bright spot to all this, if any, lol.

So, it is curable, given the right protocol and allowing sufficient time. :)

In the meantime, your goal is to progressively keep weeding it out from everywhere in your personal space!

Ok, well that was just the abbreviated version. The following pages contain additional options and more detailed instructions and information...

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