The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, October 10, 1994, Image 2

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    (4
l>(£>rOJ E|03 EIW Q.“ilT--g-|(St<|oj£ TO Q.ICC C[<t>(DIi
Page 2 • The Battalion
Health
■OnMBBHgRVf ^ -
Science
Monday • Octoberi
o<
Old diseases learn new tricks, not phased by treatmem
By Katherine Arnold
The Battalion
The recent outbreak of the plague
in India has raised questions about
the possibility of recurrences in the
United States.
There are as many as 400 suspected
cases of pneumonic plague in India.
However, several of these are actually
sicknesses such as tuberculosis and
pneumonia.
Dr. David McMurray, a professor of
medical microbiology and immunology
at Texas A&M, has been conducting re
search on tuberculosis, which once
plagued the United States.
At the turn of the century, tubercu
losis was the number one killer of hu
mans. Improvements in living stan
dards and the advent of antibiotics
helped to control the disease, McMur
ray said.
According to the National Institute
of Allergies and Infectious Diseases,
eight million people contract tubercu
losis and three million people die from
it. In 1992, there were over 26,000 ac
tive cases of tuberculosis in the Unit
ed States.
“So far we have discovered that the
nutritional habits of the patient
makes a difference,” McMurray said.
“We have also tested vaccines that
consist of genetically engineered re
combinant DNA.”
Tuberculosis is a disease that tar
gets the lungs. Patients suffer from a
cough, fever, troubled breathing, and
weight loss. Patients can be totally
cured with antibiotics if the disease is
caught early enough.
Janet Matthews, who works with the
tuberculosis control program at the Bra
zos County Health Department, said a
person can contract the virus from a pa
tient in which the virus is active.
“A person may be exposed to the
virus from an active-state patient, but
the virus remains inactive for a long
time,” Matthews said. “Within a year or
two, when the defense systems finally
break down, the person comes down
with active tuberculosis.”
The Brazos County Health Depart
ment created the tuberculosis control
program because Texas is among the
top six states with the highest rate of
tuberculosis. The program attempts to
increase awareness about tuberculosis
symptoms.
Despite improved living conditions in
the United States, Matthews said tu
berculosis is resurging once again.
She said an increased number of
HIV-infected individuals has caused tu
berculosis to remain active, because the
immune system of an HIV-infected per
son is more susceptible to infection.
Also, an increased number of immi
grants from countries with high rates of
tuberculosis accounts for cases still ex
isting in the United States, she said.
These countries include Mexico, Viet
nam and some Asian countries.
Matthews said pockets of tuberculo
sis exist in the United States among
certain areas of the general population,
such as the homeless and the under
nourished. Interaction with such groups
can cause the disease to spread.
Researchers are still working to
combat the disease. But doctors face
new problems.
“We are seeing the appearance of re
sistance from the virus,” McMurray
said. “The old treatments aren’t work
ing anymore.”
The virus develops an immunity to
certain drugs, and those drugs are inef
fective in treating tuberculosis, Mc
Murray said.
“This is a fairly hew development,”
McMurray said. “We’ve not seen this
before.”
The Health Department reported
Istan
ALIO!
that there have been no case;
berculosis in the Brazos
the past year. Ming <
Tthan
Newest antibiotics rendered useless
before treatable but now resistant virusl;
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Germs resistant to antibiotics
are spreading at an alarming rate in hospitals, and doc
tors fear pneumonia, blood infections and other ills will
become impervious to anything medicine can now throw
at them.
If this happens, routine ailments can become killers,
especially among those whose bodies are already weak
ened by disease.
Nowhere is this problem more urgent than in hospitals,
where the spread of infections has always been a big problem.
About 85 percent of the types of bacteria responsible for
hospital-acquired infections have gradually developed resis
tance to common antibiotics, said Dr. Martin Favero of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
A study outlined Friday shows just how dramatically
these medicines are losing their punch. Among the most
worrisome problems is the emergence of common intesti
nal microbes called enterococci that are resistant to van
comycin, the main drug used against them.
Dr. Ronald N. Jones and others from the University of
Iowa collected samples from 43 hospitals across the Unit
ed States. They found that about 16 percent of enterococci
can withstand vancomycin, and about half of these are
also resistant to all the other primary antibiotics used
against them — and even some drugs that have not been
released yet for routine treatment.
Enterococci can cause life-threatening bloodstream and
heart infections.
Of even more concern is the possibility that enterococci
might pass their resistance on to other nasty microbes,
such as staph bacteria, that doctors now stop with van
comycin. . ;all - v -
“This is a really terrifying potential,” Jones said ageoi
The survey also showed that 18 percent of pneumj y t° *
bacteria, which cause pneumonia, are resistant t«; it off
cillin. Two-thirds of one variety of staphylococcusk;
were resistant to ciprofloxacin, another commonantiti lianisi
Jones presented his findings at an infectious-diseasf as nai
ference sponsored by the American Society of Microbiol aragii
Antibiotic resistance is almost as old as the anti !xua | J
era, which began in the early 1940s with the disco™ Nati
penicillin. Within a few years, doctors witnessedtk iking
lution of microbes that were impervious to the medicii )na ' ^
Microbes acquire genes that shield them from the* ua / e
This happens either through random genetic mutation isbian
picking up a resistance gene from another strain ofbacte i r f™ 6
Over time, the resistant bacteria become dorainaa s abo
their susceptible kin are killed off by antibiotics. i sa id
Overuse of these powerful drugs is often blamedfj es P 0
sistance. Critics complain of a “B-52 approach"an ;a ks c
some doctors who blitz their patients with a battq al sf 6 '
broad-based antibiotics, often when they are unsm 1 rea *
actly what is making them sick. 16 f° 8
In hospitals, poor hygiene also appears to playai
and doctors and nurses are likely to be the carriers.((
they fail to wash their hands between each patientoj
ter using the toilet.
“Tve seen nurses disconnect tubing with theirii
hands and reconnect them with subsequent infei
said Dr. Robert Weinstein of Michael Reese Hosj!
Chicago. He said patients should demand that ha
workers wash up before seeing them.
X
Alaska
( ! :> >
|
v*
t<
Hospital mega-merger
Columbia-HCA Healthcare Corp., the nation’s largest
hospital chain, is buying the second-largest,
HealthTrust Inc. A look at the growing dominance of
the two companies (locations are approximate):
Columbia/HCA
Hospitals
HealthTrust
Hospitals
\ >
Wash. /
Ore.
/ \
Idaho
\ \ **N.H
/ 7——....1 A Wyo.
\ Calif.
\ Nev. ;
k ‘ \ "
HI. •••“.
u t, v l*4r Va -
+ lerui.'.,' Ky. y.C.*** i
) A • *. “•••■.. '**'
▲ A A\ •
Okla.^Ark. Mj ss ^ ^
X X
Health Iips
Health Fair to help students fair healthie
Source: Columbia/HCA,
HealthTrust Inc.
AP/Carl Fox
By Amy Clark
A.P. Beutel Health Center
Do you know your cholesterol level? Have you had your blood
pressure checked? What is your blood type, stress level or body
composition? Have you been screened for glaucoma? Do you
have questions about your health? Want to find out more about
what is available on campus and in the community? Do you
want to know more about health - physical, mental, social and
spiritual?
If so, come to the Health Fair! On Wed, Oct. 12, A.P. Beutel
Health Center at Texas A&M University will present “Discover
Health,” the 1994 Health and Wellness Fair. Literature, free
screenings, entertainment and great prizes will be available.
The Health Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the main
walkway and Flagroom of the MSC on campus.
The fair’s goal is to promote physical, mental, social and spiri
tual health. The campus and community organizations will pro
vide information on health issues to students, faculty, staff and
the surrounding community that can help raise awareness and
generate interest in healthy lifestyles. The information and ser
vices offered at the fair will benefit all who attend.
A variety of campus and community organizations will be
represented at the fair. Some highlights include blood pressure
screenings, glucose screenings, vision and glaucoma screenings.
biofeedback and stress tests. Over 40 campus and com
organizations will be represented at the fair, including:
• Aerofit Health and Fitness Center
• Aggies for Life
•Aggie R.E.A.C.H.
• American Red Cross Blood Services
• A.P. Beutel Health Center
• Brazos Animal Shelter
•BVCAA Family Health Services
• Brazos County Rape Crisis Center
•Brazos Valley Crisis Pregnancy Services
• Eta Sigma Gamma
•Fitlife
• Health Promotion Program
• March of Dimes
• Mental Health/Mental Retardation
• Phoebe’s Home
• Planned Parenthood of Brazos
• Texas A&M CDPE, The Rainbow Center
• Texas A&M College of Medicine
• Texas A&M Emergency Medical Services
• Texas A&M Vegetarian Society
•Texas Department of Public Safety
• University Police Department
hr
group c
ifeme
Ik car th
if the ca
J
Systi
mg C
c^Ojarden XX/slncf XXa/on
108 E North Bryan 846-4124
Professional Nail & Skin Care Services
For Men & Women
• Nall wraps & Gel Acrylic Nalls •European Facials with Massage
•Manicures and. Pedicure with •Cleansing Treatments
Reflexology (Packages Available)
•IWaffln Treatments •Waxing Services
•Foot & Hand Facials •Brow & Lash Tinting
Gift Certificates & Packages Available for All Services
source Holistic Products For the Skin, Body, Mtnd & Soul. Products
vital Are Used in Skin Treatments & Available for Home Care.
By appointment only
846-4124
108 E. North, Bryan inwwamuBiwi
BRAZOS VALLEY
EXPLORE A WORLD OF
SYMPHONY
EXCITEMENT, ADVENTURE
ORCHESTRA
i—i r. inr
LI V E
AND ROMANCE
The Music Of
GINASTERA...Danza Finale From
Danzas Dei Ballet “Estancia” (Argentina)
KODALY...Hary Janos Suite (Hungary)
BRAHMS...Symphony No. 4 In E Minor,
Op. 98 (Germany)
Bmaxch Valiev Symphony On cm mu
MONDAY, OCTOBER 10th 8PM
YOUR PASSPORT
Tickets May Be Purchased At The
TO
Rudder Box Office Or Order By
GREAT MUSIC
Phone - 845-1234
P RO
DISC I ; HIMfjfi
• All CD's $6.95 - $8.95
n s • New Releases $11.99
• We pay up to $5.00 for pre-owned CD's
• All CD's guaranteed
• Listen before you buy (8 listening stations)
• Check out our computerized look up static 11
705 1
113 College Main (Northgate)
846-6620
<Tu<To$jchCg
260-2660
6-8 PM
PHYS 201
8-10 PM
PHYS 218
10 P-MID
CHEM 102
MON 10/10
Practice Test
Dr. Yarich
PHYS 218
CH 7,8
CHEM 102
CH 17
TUE 10/11
Practice Test
Dr. Ford
CHEM 102
CH 17, 18
CHEM 102
CH 18
PHYS 218
Practice Test
CHEM 102
Practice Test
7 PM
FINC 341
9 PM
MATH 152
11 PM
MON 10/10
FINC 341
CHS
MATH 152
Sec. 7.9, 8.1,
15.1, 15.2
TUE 10/11
FINC 341
CH 6
MATH 152
Sec. 8.2, 8.3,
5.5
WED 10/12
FINC 341
CH 21
MATH 152
Sec. 8.4, 8.5,
10.1, 10.2
THR 10/13
FINC 341
Practice
Exams
MATH 152
Practice
Exams
Professor Jones
knows the laws of
thermodynamKS.
Now she knows the
dynamics of life
insurance, too.
The Battalion
BELINDA BLANCARTE, Editor in chief
MARK EVANS, Managing editor
HEATHER WINCH, Night News editor
MARK SMITH, Night News editor
KIM McGUIRE, City editor
JAY ROBBINS, Opinion editor
STEWART MILNE, Photo editor
DAVID WINDER, Sports editor
ROB CLARK, Aggie life editor
And her family couldn’t be happier. To learn more
about life insurance, call the TIAA Life Insurance
Planning Center. Weekdays, 8AM to 8PM, E.S.T.
1800223-1200
Dept. 56T
This offer is available to faculty, staff, administrators and their spouses.
Teachers Insurance and
Annuity Association
730 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017-3206
Ensuring the future for those who shape it. ~
Staff Members
City desk—Jan Higginbotham, Katherine Arnold, Michele Brinkmann, Stephanie Dube,'' 111 ;
Fowle, Melissa Jacobs, Amy Lee, Lisa Messer, Susan Owen, Constance Parle" ‘
Powers and Tracy Smith
News desk— Robin Greathouse, Sterling Hayman, Jody Holley, Shafi Islam, Jennifer Mo"" 11
Tiffany Moore,Stacy Stanton, Zachary Toups and James Vineyard
Photographers— Tim Moog, Amy Browning, Robyn Calloway,.Stacey Cameron, BlakeG#
Gina Painton, Nick Rodnicki and Carrie Thompson
Aggielife— Margaret Claughton and Jeremy Keddie
Sports writers— Nick Georgandis, Tom Day, Drew Diener and Stewart Doreen
Opinion desk— Jenny Magee, Lynn Booher, Josef Elchanan, Laura Frnka, Aja HendersoJ 1
Hill, Jeremy Keddie, Michael Landauer, Melissa Megliola, George Nasr,0®
Preston, Gerardo Quezada and Frank Stanford
Cartoonists— Greg Argo, Brad Graeber, Alvaro Gutierrez and Quatro Oakley
Office Assistants— Heather Fitch, Adam Hill, Karen Hoffman and Michelle Oleson
The Battalion (USPS 045-360) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall andsp^
semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer sessions (except University holi(b' !
exam periods), at Texas A&M University. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 7#
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, 230 Reed McDonald Building,Te$
A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.
News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M Universityi# 1 *
Division of Student Publication, a unit of the Department of Journalism. Editorial officesa(T
013 Reed McDonald Building. E-mail: BATT@TAMVM1.TAMU.EDU. Newsroom phone
845-3313. Fax:845-2647.
Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Bats-
For campus, local and national display advertising, call 845-2696. For classified advertising,
0569. Advertising offices are in 015 Reed McDonald and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Mof*
through Friday. Fax: 845-2678.
Subscriptions: Mail subscriptions are $20 per semester, $40 per school year and $50 perW 1 '
To charge by VISA, MasterCard or Discover, call 845-2611.
Loc
313-
Collegi