Prescription Drug (RX) Discount Cards - (info is as of August 2004)

http://www.medicarerights.org/rxchart2.html
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23 days till the big bomb drop, i.e., election day. To a candidate, an election is like looking up into the sky, seeing the bomb dropping and trying to catch it before it hits.

What You Need to Know About E. coli

You may think E. coli outbreaks and contaminated spinach reports are yesterday's news, but not so fast fair members. Now it's lettuce.

There's clearly more to the E. coli story than just the 192 people diagnosed in the spinach contamination.

While the media has gotten wind of this story of late, it's a little-known fact that the strain of E. coli involved in recent batches of contaminated spinach accounts for as many as 73,000 cases of infection and 61 deaths each year - yep, as in each year.

So, fair member, let's brush up on the facts around this little critter called E. coli.

E. coli - Essential bacteria with a twist

Escherichia coli -- or E. coli -- comprise a major percentage of a healthy colon's bacteria base.

Every day hundreds of trillions of E. coli bacteria scuttle around in your gut, aiding in digestion and vitamin synthesis (think vitamin K and some B vitamins).

So, if these little rod-shaped organisms are a natural part of your system, then why all distress? There are two potential explanations:

1. E. coli can get into the wrong body cavities, such as the urinary tract or abdomen, and thus cause infection. Urinary tract infections, though uncomfortable, tend to be easily treated. Peritonitis, which can be fatal, means your intestines have been perforated, usually as a result of an ulcer, appendicitis or surgical error.

2. Mutated strains of E. coli -- like the strain 0157:H7 responsible for spinach-related illness and death -- produce toxins that attack your body. Even if antibiotics are used to fight the harmful bacteria, the toxins can still persist and harm your body.

Mutant strain 0157:H7 destroys intestinal walls and produces toxins

There are hundreds of E. coli strains, with more being created all the time as a result of mutation.

Mutant strain O157:H7 fits the profile of a mutated strain, and like other results of mutation, it has the capability to make the "host" ill.

Strain O157:H7 belongs to a smaller E. coli family known for producing toxins that tear down the intestinal wall. Aside from causing gastrointestinal distress and bloody diarrhea, E. coli infections can also lead to kidney failure and even death.

Strain O157:H7 is a particularly nasty bug, as it can survive the harsh acid-bath of the stomach and few bacteria are actually required to cause dramatic damage.

Most healthy adults don't suffer terribly from infection, with cases of cramping and diarrhea being typical. Children, the elderly, and those with compromised or undeveloped immune systems, however, are at far greater risk for more serious symptoms.

Avoiding E. coli infection

E. coli infections in the U.S. are predominantly caused by eating undercooked ground beef.

However, infection can result whenever you come into contact with, er, fecal matter. Sigh. It's true. When folks don't wash their hands, these bad boys can get passed along rather easily. Infections can also occur after drinking unpasteurized milk or juice or swallowing contaminated water. Beware those idyllic ponds and streams of outdoor summer fun!

Cranberries shown to combat E. coli

Many of you already know that drinking cranberry juice can stop a bladder infection in its tracks, right? Researchers may have just found out how.

Recent studies have shown cranberry compounds, called tannins or proanthocyanidins, have the ability to change the structure of E. coli bacteria and their cell membranes, rendering them unable to initiate infection.

Cranberry compounds also appear to inhibit bacterial communication methods. E. coli bacteria use a system called "quorum sensing" to determine when there are enough bacteria present at a certain location to initiate a successful infection. Without this clever signaling, these bad boys couldn't assess troop strength for their attack.

Good grief, little tribes of Genghis Khan cells coordinating their conquests. What next?