Back in March, when the coronavirus first hit the U.S., I made a prediction that our reaction to the pandemic would cause far more harm than the “novel” virus itself.
And, indeed, that’s what has happened. The months-long shutdown of our health care system led to thousands more preventable, excess deaths—as I started reporting last spring.
Now, there’s yet another problem rearing its ugly head…
It turns out, doctors at hospitals around the country rampantly and inappropriately prescribed antibiotics to the majority of admitted COVID-19 patients. And this severe overreaction will undoubtedly worsen the antibiotic-resistant superbug epidemic.
I’ll tell you all about that new investigation in just a moment. But first, let’s back up to discuss the origins of so-called superbugs…
Superbugs stem from antibiotic overuse
For a few decades in the mid-20th century, mainstream medicine naively boasted that they had basically “conquered” infectious diseases with the use of “miracle” antibiotics. They said infectious diseases really only posed ongoing problems in “third-world,” developing countries.
As a result, they basically decided to focus on non-infectious, chronic diseases…like heart disease and cancer. Even medical schools in the 1970s had little interest in teaching about infectious diseases. And they began shutting down research labs and related coursework.
In fact, when I was in medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, I actually organized a course for medical students at our neighboring veterinary school in order to find professors who could teach us something about infectious, parasitic, and tropical diseases.
Meanwhile, mainstream medicine and big pharma continued to relentlessly push antibiotics to “treat” every infection—big or small, bacterial or viral, serious or silly. And that kind of inappropriate overtreatment went on for decades.
As a result, many types of bacteria mutated and grew resistant to the onslaught of antibiotics. So, now in 2020, these “miracle” antibiotics are ineffective against these superbugs. Worse yet, these drugs turned from “magic bullets” into “friendly fire.”
Of course, when antibiotic-resistant superbugs such as methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) first emerged, you only contracted them in health-care settings—like in a hospital or nursing home. But now, these dangerous bacteria run rampant just about everywhere…including in gyms, schools and homes, where they can linger on surfaces for months! And they cause more than 2.8 million infections and at least 35,000 deaths each year.
Sadly, the lesson on antibiotic overuse has yet to be fully learned. And now, antibiotics are even being doled out carelessly to some COVID-19 patients…
Majority of COVID-19 patients inappropriately given antibiotics
For the new study I mentioned earlier, researchers randomly sampled almost 2,000 COVID-19 patients admitted to 38 different Michigan hospitals between mid-March and mid-June of this year.
Among those patients, almost 60 percent of them were prescribed antibiotics within two days of entering the hospital. But subsequent testing showed that less than 4 percent of them actually had a bacterial infection that possibly warranted antibiotic treatment. (Remember, antibiotics don’t “cure” bacterial infections. They simply slow reproduction of the bacteria, so your immune system has a chance to play catch up. And they do nothing against viruses.)
So, in the event that you do develop COVID-19 over the next few months, only consent to taking an antibiotic if it’s absolutely necessary to treat a deadly infection…such as bacterial pneumonia.
But even more importantly, I suggest focusing on some simple measures to support your immune system, starting today. These steps, even though we don’t hear about them from the mainstream medical experts, will help protect you against the coronavirus, influenza, and even superbugs…
Safely avoid coronavirus, the flu, and superbug infections this winter
First, as I always recommend, make sure to remain vigilant with your personal hygiene. Wash your hands several times a day (and whenever returning home) for 20 seconds with plain soap and water. When you don’t have access to soap, use plain water. And when you don’t have access to water, try saline solution. New research shows it may be more effective than an alcohol-based hand-sanitizer. And you can purchase travel-sized bottles of saline at local grocery or convenience stores—making them just as easy to find and carry around as hand-sanitizers! (These methods will help protect you against most microbes, as most of them enter your body when you touch contaminated fingers to your eyes, nose, or mouth.)
You may also want to make a topical botanical blend like “thieves oil” to use on your hands and for cleaning around the house…
During the Middle Ages, highwaymen in France made this natural antibiotic to protect themselves against the plague when robbing travelers and graves. Many different recipes exist for this concoction, but here’s a modern variation that I use. Simply combine:
- 4 cups of water
- 1 ½ cups of red wine vinegar
- ½ cup of honey
- 1 tbsp of crushed coriander seed
- 2 drops of eucalyptus oil
- 2 drops of lavender oil
- 2 drops of lemon oil
- 3 cloves of crushed garlic
Second, support your immune system by following a balanced, nutrient-rich Mediterranean-type diet. Specifically, add in foods and beverages that contain the potent antioxidant epigallocatechin (EGCG), such as dark chocolate and red wine, as research shows this potent antioxidant can help in the treatment of superbug infections. In fact, we now know EGCG can restore the effectiveness of an antibiotic called aztreonam against superbugs. (Most people associate EGCG with green tea. But I don’t recommend drinking it as a pathway to health.)
You can also find EGCG in fruits such as cranberries, strawberries, blackberries, kiwis, cherries, pears, peaches, apples, and avocados, as well as in nuts such as pecans, pistachios, and hazelnuts.
Third, practice some mind-body techniques, such as yoga or meditation, to reduce stress. According to research I published 20 years ago with Dr. Ken Seaton, when you’re under stress, your body starts producing stress hormones, such as cortisol, which accelerate aging, depress the immune system, and make you more susceptible to infections of all kinds.
Of course, there are many more ways you can support your immune system all year long. And you can learn all about them in my Pandemic Protection Playbook: How to become “immune ready” in every season. To gain access this essential guide, click here now!
Sources:
“Antibiotic-Resistant Infections Affect Millions: How We Can Fight Back.” Healthline, 10/26/20. (healthline.com/health-news/antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-causes-2-8-million-infections-annually-how-we-can-fight-back)
“COVID-19 and Drug-Resistant Superbugs Are a Frightening Combination.” Discover, 10/22/20. (discovermagazine.com/health/covid-19-and-drug-resistant-superbugs-are-a-frightening-combination)
“Empiric Antibacterial Therapy and Community-onset Bacterial Co-infection in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19: A Multi-Hospital Cohort Study.” Clinical Infectious Diseases, 8/21/20: ciaa1239. doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa1239