What about penicillin research?

What is the reason that bacterial infections are not defeated?

Why do I have to take all of the antibiotic tablets?

What is acute sinusitis?

What is chronic sinusitis?

Why should I be careful with liniments having cystitis?

Why should I wipe from front to back?

How is cystitis treated?

How do I get infected with bronchtitis?

How should I treat cystitis?

How can I treat and prevent bronchitis?

Bayer researchers played a significant role in the success of penicillin.
Penicillins followed sulfonamides, which were discovered byProfessor Gerhard Domagk. This pioneering discovery earned him a Nobel Prize in medicine.

Bayer researchers developed an industrial scale manufacturing process for the basic building block of all penicillins, 6-aminopenicillanic acid. It was thus possible to develop semisynthetic penicillin varieties, a necessity because bacteria quickly become resistant to this antibiotic. In addition, our researchers discovered a new generation of highly effective broad spectrum antibiotics in the 1970s, the synthetic acylureido penicillins with the tradenames "Baypen" and "Securopen," which are still used today to fight dangerous germs.

Despite all our former successes, bacterial infections are still on the rise, even in countries with high medical standards. There are several reasons for this:

• An ever-increasing elderly population means a growing number of weakened immune systems, a normal consequence of the aging process.
• More and more patients are suffering from serious diseases such as cancer, heart failure, chronic lung and advanced liver and kidney disorders due to increased life expectancies. Such patients are particularly susceptible to infection.
• The number of patients with weakened immune systems, for example because of AIDS, after surviving transplants or because of aggressive medical treatment, is growing.
• The worldwide use of more than 100 different anti-infectives has led to many multiresistant bacteria (resistance to a variety of anti-infectives), principally gram-positive pathogens. We have since learned that multiresistant bacteria can transmit the trait among themselves, even between different species (cross resistance). In the case of staphylococci and enterococci, the most common pathogens of "hospital infections," experts fear a regression into the "pre-antibiotic era." Every year in the United States alone, around 800,000 hospital patients contract this type of infection, for example, pneumonia. Every 20th person dies from it.
  

Even when you feel better, you must continue to take the antibiotic tablets or capsules every day until they run out. This is to ensure that the infection goes away completely.

Acute sinusitis may occur at any age and is usually easy to treat. The symptoms vary depending on which sinuses are affected. You may get a blocked nose, headache, and a feeling of pressure in the face which is worse when you lean forward.

Sinusitis is painful. It may hurt under or 'behind' the eyes or around the upper jaw. Your top teeth may hurt when you walk!

You may suffer from black, yellow, green or brownish mucus and have a foul smell in the nose (or no sense of smell at all).

Chronic sinusitis never seems to clear up. Chronic means long-lasting.

Good (not excessive ) personal hygiene is a good idea for you and your partner. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before considering other treatments. For example, creams and ointments may be of little benefit at best and, at worst, may simply provide a breeding ground for more bacteria. In general, you should avoid any irritants (deodorants, talcum powder, soap, etc.).

Most cystitis is caused by bacteria that normally live in the colon. Parents are told to be careful when changing a baby's nappy to wipe from front to back, particularly for baby girls and this advice should also be followed by adults to prevent the transfer of bacteria from the colon.

If the problem is mild and you are a fairly fit adult, the infection may resolve if you can maintain a good output of urine. You will be told to drink plenty of fluids and perhaps a citrate solution to ease the pain and to help clear the infection.

Otherwise you will be given antibiotics immediately. In either case, you will probably be asked to provide a "midstream" urine sample so that your doctor can find out what bacteria (if any) are living inside your bladder.

With a bacterial infection, you will be given a course of antibiotics. If you do not feel better within a few days you may need a different type of antibiotic.

You can catch colds from droplets in the air spread by coughs and sneezes. You can also pick germs up on your hands and transfer them to your mouth. You can help friends and family by keeping to yourself during bouts of acute bronchitis. You cannot catch chronic bronchitis or give it to others.

If you have an acute infection, follow your doctor's advice. You may want to take aspirin to lower your temperature and ease the pain. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about any other medicines you are taking or thinking of taking.

You can take extra measures to help prevent any reinfection. First, make sure you drink at least 2 litres of fluid a day. Make sure you pass urine every two to three hours. Before bed, empty your bladder. After sex, empty your bladder. If you are prone to constipation take steps to correct it because constipation sometimes stops the emptying of your bladder properly.

Finally, avoid perfumed or medicated soaps, bubble baths and oils when washing, as these can all cause irritation to delicate areas of skin.

If you have an acute infection, follow your doctor's advice. You may want to take an aspirin to lower your temperature and ease the pain. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about any other medicines you are taking or thinking of taking.

You can help yourself by avoiding those things that make it worse. Stop smoking and try to avoid smoky or dusty atmospheres. There are strict rules about safety at work. Make sure the rules are being applied if you work with chemicals, machinery which causes smoke, dust or flour.

Air pollution is worse on some days. You might stay indoors on bad days, and if you can avoid the traffic pollution of big cities, so much the better.

Sensible eating, drinking, and exercise will help you keep fit as well as making you better equipped to fight infection. Make sure you understand what your doctor has told you about your condition and its treatment. Then follow your doctor's advice.