18 LISTENER AUGUST 3 2019
ANTIBIOTICRESISTANT BUGS
peer-reviewed medical-journal articles
about natural healing methods for staph
and MRSA, and the role certain bacteria
strains, such as Bacillus [commonly found
in over-the-counter probiotics], can play
in targeting staph in the gut and nose.
Several articles spoke to the power of apply-
ing mānuka essential oil to the infections
- something we are lucky to have in abun-
dance in New Zealand. I was also reading
about antibiotic resistance, in particular
taking a closer look at the World Health
Organisation’s position and the effect on
our health and agricultural sectors.
“I learnt that staphylococci infections
cause tens of thousands of deaths world-
wide every year, and that Staphylococcus
aureus can live in the nose or gut of humans
without causing harm. However, if the skin
is broken or the immune system compro-
mised – in my case, probably both – these
bacteria can cause serious infections.
“I also read that to stop new infections
growing, I had to decolonise my body
of MRSA, a process that usually includes
administering high doses of antibiotics,
with mixed results, as well as controlling
the spread of the bacteria on to surfaces.
This meant washing the bed sheets in
very hot water most days and cleaning
our house thoroughly, as the bacteria can
survive for quite a long time on surfaces,
and I didn’t want to risk our daughter con-
tracting it.
“These infections healed over to the pointwhere I was clear of them for about two
weeks, before two monsters popped up on
my bottom. These were about 3cm in diam-
eter, with a 10cm red surround – sore and
nasty. From first appearing to fully healing
took more than a month. I still have scars.
“As these infections healed, I then got a
small graze on my left elbow and this con-
tracted MRSA. This was the worst of all the
infections I had. I visited my doctor, who
was interested in getting to the root cause
of the MRSA and provided support over the
next few days as things progressed.
“I was also working in parallel with my
naturopath to give my body the support
it needed to fight the infection naturally. I
know naturopathy is not for everyone, but
I am a strong believer in the body’s ability
to heal itself and that, alongside modern
medicine, traditional and natural medi-
cine have a role to play in helping our gut
microbiome and wider immune system.
“I saw real progress over the next day or
so, but then it started to slow and reverse. I
was under a lot of pressure to abandon my
self-treatment approach. Friends and family
were getting worried. Fliss’ mother told me
it was easily the worst thing she had ever
seen in her 64 years and that another family
friend had recently had part of his finger
removed as a result of a staph infection. At
this point, we left Auckland to spend Easter
in Rotorua.
“On arrival in Rotorua, I went down-
hill fast. Fliss and Chloe took me to A&E
because of the pain. I was starting to sweat.Things happened very quickly after that.
I was septically unwell, so blood cultures
were taken and I was moved from A&E to
Rotorua Hospital to have surgery to wash
and debride the infection – a polite term
for cutting off the surface – which they did
twice. The surgery was done by an ortho-
paedic team, as they were concerned about
damage to the bone by the infection. Fol-
lowing surgery, I was given intravenous
antibiotics for five days, which meant
spending Easter in Rotorua Hospital, and
an improvised Easter egg hunt around the
hospital bedroom for Chloe.
“On my discharge from hospital, the
Rotorua district nurse visited daily to dress
the wound – an amazing service. On myreturn to Auckland, I visited the Greenlane
Clinical Centre orthopaedic team weekly to
check healing and had the district-nurse
team dress the wound weekly as well. I
was discharged from the service when it
finally healed two months later. There is a
large scar, to which I am applying a natural
cream.
“To be deemed free of MRSA, I need to
have three clear swabs. I have had one
clear swab, but need to have another two.
Unfortunately, my father-in-law and niece
have had new infections, so I’m hoping I
won’t see a recurrence.”RESPONSIBLE ANTIBIOTICS USE
Why did Sullivan hold out for so long, and
why does he place so much faith in the
body’s ability to heal itself? How justified
was his fear about antibiotics killing his
gut bacteria?
Dr Xochitl Morgan, director of the
Microbiome Otago research team and an
expert in the human-gut microbiome, says,
“It’s true antibiotics affect our microbiomes
and that it is important to use them respon-
sibly. However, I would not hesitate to take
them when medically necessary, especially
with a serious infection. Our microbiomes“I would not hesitate
to take antibiotics
when medically
necessary, especially
with a serious infection.
Our microbiomes
are quite resilient.”
“Fitness and youth afford
no special protection.Some immune systems
cope better with
particular bugs thanothers, and their capacity
can change with time.”Microbiome expert Dr Xochitl Morgan (top);
infectious diseases specialist Dr Mark Thomas.