Antibiotics and the development of resistant microorganisms. Can homeopathy be an alternative?

Petter Viksveen

doi:10.1016/S1475-4916(03)00016-X

Homeopathy, Inhaltsverzeichnis

Homeopathy 2003; 92(02): 99-107
DOI: 10.1016/S1475-4916(03)00016-X

Education and Debate

Antibiotics and the development of resistant microorganisms. Can homeopathy be an alternative?

Authors

Petter Viksveen

¹Nordbogaten 10, Stavanger, Norway

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is a global public health problem. Once confined primarily to hospitals it is now increasingly common in primary care. The prevalence of resistant bacteria is rising, and organisms resistant to almost all antibiotics have been identified. The main causes are indiscriminate prescribing and the use of antibiotics in animal feeds and other agricultural applications. Policies to restrict use of antibiotics have had limited success. Homeopathy may have a role to play in combating the development of antibiotic resistance. Clinical research suggests that homeopathy is effective in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in children, a frequent cause of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. The EU recommends the use of homeopathy in organic animal husbandry, and it is used by significant numbers of farmers. At present there is little data on the effectiveness of homeopathy in this setting. Further research should be done.

Keywords

homeopathy - antibiotics - resistant microorganisms - infectious diseases - recurring respiratory tract infections

Volltext

Referenzen

References
1 Commission of the European Communities, Brussels. , COM(2001) 333 final, Volume I, Communication from the Commission on a community strategy against antimicrobial resistance
2 Commission of the European Communities, Brussels. , COM(2001) 333 final, Volume II, Proposal for a Council recommendation on the prudent use of antimicrobial agents in human medicine.
3 Hellinger WC. Confronting the problem of increasing antibiotic resistance. South Med J 2000; 93: 842-848
4 Goossens H. Antibiotic resistance, policy in Belgium. Verh K Acad Geneeskd Belg 2000; 62: 439-469
5 Bax R, Mullan N, Verhoef J. The millennium bugs’the need for and development of new antibacterials. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2000; 16: 51-59
6 WHO annual report, Overcoming Antimicrobial Resistance. 2001
7 Hooton TM, Levy SB. Antimicrobial resistance: a plan of action for community practice. Am Fam Physician 2001; 63: 1087-1098 , 1034, 1036, 1039
8 Bishai W. Is drug resistance affecting treatment outcomes?. Am J Manag Care 2000; 6 (Suppl 23): S1197-S1201
9 Pallasch TJ. Global antibiotic resistance, its impact on the dental community. J Calif Dent Assoc 2000; 28: 215-233
10 Pallasch TJ. Global antibiotic resistance, its impact on the dental community. J N J Dent Assoc 2000; 71: 14-5 , 18-9, 22-3 passim
11 Blix HS. Antibiotikaforbruk i og utenfor helseinstitusjoner i Norge i 1998. Tidsskr Nor Lægeforen 2000; 120: 1731-1734
12 Bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents in Finland’FINRES 1999. Helsinki: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health; 1999
13 Pal D. Evolution of drug resistance, interpretation of drug sensitivity test. J Indian Med Assoc 2000; 98: 377-380
14 Dargatz DA, Traub-Dargatz JL, Sangster NC. Antimicrobic and anthelmintic resistance. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2000; 16: 515-536 , ix–x
15 Dagan R. Treatment of acute otitis media’challenges in the era of antibiotic resistance. Vaccine 2000; 19 (Suppl 1): S9-S16
16 Levy SB. Antibiotic, antiseptic resistance: impact on public health. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2000; 19 (Suppl 10): S120-S122
17 Leclercq R. Safeguarding future antimicrobial options: strategies to minimize resistance. Clin Microbiol Infect 2001; 7 (Suppl 3): 18-23
18 Garau J. The hidden impact of antibacterial resistance in respiratory tract infection. Clinical failures: the tip of the iceberg?. Respir Med 2001; 95 (Suppl A): discussion S26–S27 S5-S11
19 Patterson JE. Antibiotic utilization: is there an effect on antimicrobial resistance?. Chest 2001; 119 (Suppl 2): 426S-430S
20 van der Waaij D, Nord CE. Development and persistence of multi-resistance to antibiotics in bacteria; an analysis and a new approach to this urgent problem. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2000; 16: 191-197
21 Loeb M. Antibiotic use in long-term-care facilities: many unanswered questions. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2000; 21: 680-683
22 Cunha BA. Antibiotic resistance. Med Clin North Am 2000; 84: 1407-1429
23 Weinstein RA. Controlling antimicrobial resistance in hospitals: infection control and use of antibiotics. Emerg Infect Dis 2001; 7: 188-192
24 Monroe S, Polk R. Antimicrobial use and bacterial resistance. Curr Opin Microbiol 2000; 3: 496-501
25 Mah MW, Memish ZA. Antibiotic resistance. An impending crisis. Saudi Med J 2000; 21: 1125-1129
26 Clark L. Antibiotic resistance: a growing and multifaceted problem. Br J Nurs 2000; 9: 225-230
27 Hutchinson JM, Foley RN. Method of physician remuneration and rates of antibiotic prescription. Can Med Assoc J 1999; 160: 1013-1017
28 Resistens, nr. 4, 2000. Kommentar: Antibiotika og kunnskapsbasert medisin. . http://www.folkehelsa.no/nyhetsbrev/resistens/2000/4/resistens0400a.html#TopOfPage.
29 Ware J. Rational use of antibiotics for upper respiratory infections: an evidence-based approach. Clin Excell Nurse Pract 2000; 4: 151-157
30 Giebink GS. Otitis media prevention: non-vaccine prophylaxis. Vaccine 2000; 19 (Suppl 1): S129-S133
31 Klein JO. The burden of otitis media. Vaccine 2000; 19 (Suppl 1): S2-S8
32 Mar CD, Glasziou P, Hayem M. Are antibiotics indicated as initial treatment for children with acute otitis media? A meta-analysis. BMJ 1997; 314: 1526-1529
33 Froom J, Culpepper L, Jacobs M. et al. Antimicrobials for acute otitis media? A review from the International Primary Care Network. BMJ 1997; 315: 98-102
34 Skadberg BT, Berstad AKH. “Snørr og øreverk”’en plage for barnet, en byrde for samfunnet. Tidsskr Nor Lægeforen 2001; 121: 1328
35 Straand J, Rokstad K, Heggedal U. Drug prescribing for children in general practice. A report from the Møre & Romsdal Prescription Study. Acta Pædiatr 1998; 87: 218-224
36 Myrbakk T, Giæver A, Olsvik Ø, Flægstad T. Antibiotikabehandling av akutt ørebetennelse hos barn. Tidsskr Nor Lægeforen 1999; 119: 2649-2652
37 Spiritus E. Antibiotic usage for respiratory tract infection sin an era of rising resistance and increased cost pressure. Am J Manag Care 2000; 6 (Suppl 23): S1216-S1221
38 Pichichero ME. Evaluating the need, timing and best choice of antibiotic therapy for acute otitis media and tonsillopharyngitis infections in children. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2000; 19 (Suppl 12): S131-S140
39 Longworth DL. Microbial drug resistance, the roles of the new antibiotics. . Department of Infectious Diseases, Clevel and Clinic Foundation, OH 44195, USA.
40 Kværner KJ, Mair IW. Akutt og residiverende akutt otitis media. Profylakse og behandling i lys av nyere kunnskap. Tidsskr Nor Lægeforen 1997; 117: 4096-4098
41 Degener JE. The consequences of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. De gevolgen van bacteriele resistentie tegen antibiotica. . GeneesmiddelenBulletin (GeBu). Jaargang 33’Juni 1999’No. 6.
42 Flottorp S, Oxman AD, Cooper JG, Hjortdahl P, Sandberg S, Vorland LH. Retningslinjer for diagnostikk og behandling av sår hals. Tidsskr Nor Lægeforen 2000; 120: 1754-1760
43 World Health Organisation annual report 2000. . Overcoming Antimicrobial Resistance World Health Report on Infectious Diseases 2000. Available at: http://www.who.int/infectious-disease-report/2000/index.html.
44 WHO. Containing antimicrobial resistance. . WHO/CDS/CSR/DRS/99.2. Geneva: World Health Organisation, 1999.
45 Blondeau JM, Vaughan D. A review of antimicrobial resistance in Canada. Can J Microbiol 2000; 46: 867-877
46 Viksveen P, Gordon S. The future of the practice of homeopathy in Europe. Homoeopathic Links 2002; 15: 77-79
47 Norges offentlige utredninger, NOU 1998:21 Alternativ medisin. . (Official report published by the Norwegian Department of Health. Available at: http://odin.dep.no/hd/norsk/publ/utredninger/NOU/030005-020019/index-ved005-b-n-a.html).
48 Resolution on the Commission report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of Directives 92/73/EEC and 92/74/EEC on homeopathic medicinal products. (COM(97)0362 - C4-0484/97).
49 Viksveen P, Finne B. A survey of 10 countries where homeopathy is being practised. . European Council for Classical Homeopathy, March 1999. Available at: European Council for Classical Homeopathy, School House, Market Place, Kenninghall, Norfolk NR16 2AH, UK. www.homeopathy-ecch.org.
50 Maddalena S. The legal status of complementary medicines in Europe’a comparative analysis. . Bern, Stämpfli, 1999.
51 Menniti-Ippolito F, Gargiulo L, Bologna E, Forcella E, Raschetti R. Use of unconventional medicine in Italy: a nation-wide survey. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2002; 58: 61-64
52 Encyclopedia Britannica. . Available at: http://www.britannica.com/search?query=homeopathy&ct=.
53 Legal Status of Traditional Medicine and Complementary/Alternative Medicine: A Worldwide Review. , World Health Organization, 2001.
54 Ahuja MC, Khamar B. Antibiotic associated diarrhoea: a controlled study comparing plain antibiotic with those containing protected lactobacilli. J Indian Med Assoc 2002; 100: 334-335
55 Maxwell PR, Rink E, Kumar D, Mendall MA. Antibiotics increase functional abdominal symptoms. Am J Gastroenterol 2002; 97: 104-108
56 Homeopati eller antibiotika’du kan velge (leaflet). . Available at: Norske Homeopaters Landsforbund, Storg. 39, 0182 Oslo, Norway.
57 Linde K, Clausius N, Ramirez G. et al. Are the clinical effects of homoeopathy placebo effects? A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials. Lancet 1997; 350: 834-843
58 Kvaerner KJ, Nafstad P, Jaakkola JJ. Upper respiratory morbidity in preschool children: a cross-sectional study. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2000; 126: 1201-1206
59 Monto AS, Sullivan KM. Acute respiratory illness in the community. Frequency of illness and the agents involved. Epidemiol Infect 1993; 110: 145-160
60 Wefring KW, Lie KK. Tett i nesen og vondt i øret–øvre luftveisinfeksjoner hos fireåringer. Tidsskr Nor Lægeforen 2001; 121: 1329-1332
61 Rokstad K, Straand J, Sandvik H. Pasientkontakter i allmennpraksis. Tidsskr Nor Lægeforen 1997; 117: 659-664
62 Reid S. A survey of the use of over-the-counter homeopathic medicines purchased in health stores in central Manchester. Homeopathy 2002; 91: 225-229
63 Friese K-H, Kruse S, Ludtke R, Moeller H. Homeopathic treatment of otitis media in children: comparisons with conventional therapy. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 1997; 35: 296-301
64 Lærum E, Borchgrevink CF, Wiens G. Hvem går til homøopat?. Tidsskr Nor Lægeforen 1985; 105: 2478-2482
65 Steinsbekk A. Fønnebø V. Users of homeopaths in Norway in 1998, compared to previous users and GP patients. Homeopathy 2003; 92: 1-64
66 Steinsbekk A. Hvilke plager har barn som oppsøker norske homøopater?. Dynamis 2001; 2: 28-31
67 Andersen HE. En undersøgelse af Klassisk Homøopati. Teorier, praksis og brugererfaringer. 1999. ISBN 87-987279-0-7
68 de Lange de Klerk E. et al. Effects of homoeopathic medicines on daily burden of symptoms in children with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections. BMJ 1994; 309: 1329-1332
69 Riley D, Fischer M, Singh B, Haidvogl M, Heger M. Homeopathy and conventional medicine: an outcomes study comparing effectiveness in a primary care setting. J Altern Complement Med 2001; 7: 149-159
70 Jacobs J, Springer DA, Crothers D. Homeopathic treatment of acute otitis media in children: a preliminary randomized placebo-controlled trial. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2001; 20: 177-183
71 Frei H, Thurneysen A. Homeopathy in acute otitis media in children: treatment effect or spontaneous resolution?. Br Homeopath J 2001; 90: 180-182
72 Harrison H, Fixsen A, Vickers A. A randomized comparison of homoeopathic, standard care for the treatment of glue ear in children. Compl Therap Med 1999; 7: 132-135
73 Weber U, Luedtke R, Friese KH, Fischer I, Moeller H. A non-randomised pilot study to compare complementary and conventional treatments of acute sinusitis. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2002; 9: 99-104
74 Adler M. Efficacy, safety of a fixed-combination homeopathic therapy for sinusitis. Adv Ther 1999; 16: 103-111
75 Wiesenauer M, Gaus W, Bohnacker U, Haussler S. [Efficiency of homeopathic preparation combinations in sinusitis. Results of a randomized double blind study with general practitioners.]. Arzneimittelforschung 1989; 39: 620-625
76 van Haselen R. The economic evaluation of complementary medicine: a staged approach at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital. Br Homeopath J 2000; 89 (Suppl 1): S23-S26
77 Buxton M. Assessing the cost-effectiveness of homeopathic medicines: are the problems different from other health technologies?. Br Homeopath J 2000; 89 (Suppl 1): S20-S22
78 Chaufferin G. Improving the evaluation of homeopathy: economic considerations and impact on health. Br Homeopath J 2000; 89 (Suppl 1): S27-S30
79 Swayne J. The cost, effectiveness of homoeopathy. A pilot study, proposals for future research. Br Homoeopath J 1992; 81: 148-150
80 Schafer T, Riehle A, Wichmann HE, Ring J. Alternative medicine in allergies’prevalence, patterns of use, and costs. Allergy 2002; 57: 694-700
81 Christie EA, Ward AT. Report on NHS practice-based homoeopathy project. . Analysis of effectiveness and cost of homoeopathic treatment within ad GP practice at St. Margaret's Surgery, Bradford on Avon, Wilts. September 1996. The Society of Homeopaths. ISBH 1 901262 006.
82 Kastebrink S-E. Studie av homeopatiskt behandlade kor med diverse åkommor. . Report, 1996. May be ordered from the author at tel: + 45 586 73 20 06.
83 Henriksson E. Homeopatibehandling på mjölkkor. . Examensarbete i Lantmästarprogrammet. Alnarp: Inst. för jordbrukets biosystem och teknologi, 1997.
84 Loor H. Homeopati på ko - en ny behandlingsmetod i mjölkproduktionen?. Institutionen för idisslarmedicin och epidemiologi SLU, Uppsala, 1997.
85 Arnesson P, Jörgenfelt C, och Larsson L. Dokumentation av homeopati för nötkreatur. Report, 1999. Available at: Lisbeth Larsson, tel. + 46 504 300 11
86 ECCH report on the homeopathic treatment of animals in Europe, June 2000. Available at: European Council for Classical Homeopathy, School House, Market Place, Kenninghall, Norfolk NR16 2AH, UK. www.homeopathy-ecch.org
87 Council Regulation (EC) No 1804/1999 of 19 July 1999 supplementing Regulation EC No 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring there on agricultural products and foodstuffs to include livestock production..
88 Fossing EC. vet.med. Application of alternative medicine in organic dairy herds with special emphasis on the effect of veterinary homeopathy on udder health. . Project description available at: http://www.raph.dk/common/phd/student-profiles/elisabeth_christine_fossing/index.php3.
89 Albrecht H. Schütte A. Homeopathy versus antibiotics in metaphylaxis of infectious diseases: a clinical study in pig fattening and its significance to consumers. Altern Ther Health Med 1999; 5: 64-68
90 Vaarst M. The challenge of implementing homoeopathy into the health advisory system in organic herds. . Danish experiences. Veterinary homoeopathy in organic herds, 1997. Rapport no 90, Ministeriet for Fødevarer, Landbrug og Fiskeri, Danmarks Jordbrugsforksning. Printed at Research Centre Foulum.
91 Henriksen B. Stor interesse for homeopati og urtemedisin hos norske økobønder. . Praksisnytt. Volume 7, nr. 1, Mars 2002. s 55-58.
92 Persson Waller K, Beyer W, och Ekman T. Veterinär homeopati till lantbrukets djur - en sammanställning av vetenskapliga försök, Institutionen för obstetrik och gynekologi, Rapport, SLU, Uppsala, 1998. . ISBN 91-576-5570-7.