Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria CRE

Carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is a new antibiotic resistant bacteria and superbug that has been discovered since its first case in North Carolina in 2001, but it has now become a major concern in the health world today. The bacteria are spreading rapidly and are even so more a issue because it is resistant to even the strongest antibiotic which is the most detrimental case in healthcare.

The organisms can affect the body in the skin (soft tissue), lungs, urinary tract or and the blood stream. The CRE bacteria can be apparent with a person who has health problems such as pneumonia or a UTI. In some cases the bacteria has become deadly.   

Doctors have tried to find the source of such a bacteria and are finding it very difficult because all of the cases are not reported from every state which makes it harder to determine. There are only reports of the bacteria from states such as Chicago, New York, Maryland, etc. This is such a big deal because it is predicted that an effective drug to kill CRE will be produced.

Parasites

 A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. Parasites can cause disease in humans. Some parasitic diseases are easily treated and some are not. The burden of these diseases often rests on communities in the tropics and subtropics, but parasitic infections also affect people in developed countries. Parasites are contracted through contaminated water, other human, animals, meats, fruits and vegetables and travel. Different parasites include hook worms, trichinella, round worms, tape worms, round worms, pin worms, and filarial worms. 

Metals

Some of the uses of metals in pure form can be listed as follows :

1. Cu, Al pure metals in the form of wires are used for carrying electrical currents. This is used in industries and homes. 2. Fe, Al, Cu metals are used to make utensils used for cooking. These are also used to make useful equipments for factories. 3. Fe is used extensively for making magnets, which has extensive uses in making transformer cores, etc. 4. Zn is used for galvanizing iron to protect Fe from rusting. 5. Cr and Ni are used for electroplating equipment. 6. Fe, Cr, Ni are used to make various types of stainless steel. 7. Metals such as Al, Cu in a foil form are used for packaging materials. 8. Ag, Au and Pt are used to make jewelry. They are also used for plating items for decorative purposes. 9. Thin foils of Ag and Au are used to decorate food items. 10. Hg is used in thermometers. 11. Almost all metals including Zr, Ti find wide applications in atomic and space programs and experiments. 12. Ti finds extensive use in aircraft industries. 13. Al finds extensive use in space and auto industries.

Community Gardens?

By visiting the community Garden near campus I realized the many different uses and benifits of them. Community gardens as provide valuable educational and social opportunities that contribute to developing a sense of community, environmental awareness, civic engagement and sustainable living. Community gardens provide fresh produce and plants as well as satisfying labor, neighborhood improvement, sense of community and connection to the environment. They are publicly functioning in terms of ownership, access, and management, as well as typically owned in trust by local governments or not for profit associations. Community gardens may help alleviate one effect of climate change, which is expected to cause a global decline in agricultural output, making fresh produce increasingly unaffordable. Community gardens encourage an urban community's food security, allowing citizens to grow their own food or for others to donate what they have grown. Advocates say locally grown food decreases a community's reliance on fossil fuels for transport of food from large agricultural areas and reduces a society's overall use of fossil fuels to drive in agricultural machinery

Rachel Carson

 Though she did not set out to do so, Carson influenced the environmental movement as no one had since the 19th century. “Silent Spring” presents a view of nature compromised by synthetic pesticides, especially DDT. Once these pesticides entered the biosphere, Carson argued, they not only killed bugs but also made their way up the food chain to threaten bird and fish populations and could eventually sicken children. Much of the data and case studies that Carson drew from weren't new; the scientific community had known of these findings for some time, but Carson was the first to put them all together for the general public and to draw stark and far-reaching conclusions. In doing so, Carson, the citizen-scientist, spawned a revolution.

Below is a link to the Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson.

http://www.rachelcarson.org/

Global Warming

Scientists used the phrase "global warming" to describe the atypical increase in the Earth's surface temperature since the beginning of the 20th century. They increasingly prefer the use of the phrase "climate change," however, to describe the complex changes the Earth's climate is undergoing, according to the National Academies. 

Human Activities

Concern about global warming and climate change grew out of the evidence that human activities contribute to the release of greenhouse gases that can cause not only changes in temperature, but wind patterns, rainfall and snowfall. People are altering the composition of the atmosphere with emissions from transportation, agriculture, manufacturing and many other activities. 

Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is a vital natural process that prevents all of the sun's heat from simply reflecting back out into space. Clouds and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide naturally trap a portion of the sun's heat. Without greenhouse gases, the planet would be 60 degrees colder and life could not exist in these conditions. (See References 1, page 2) Humans produce greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane, by burning fossil fuels to power homes and factories, generating waste and cutting down trees. Since 1750, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased over 36 percent, methane has increased over 148 percent and nitrous oxide has increased over 18 percent. 

Warming Rate

Since the early 20th century, the global temperature has warmed at a rate of about 1.3 degrees F. Scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change conclude that most of the warming since the 1950s has occurred because of human activities that increase greenhouse gas emissions. If we continue to produce greenhouse gases at even the current rate, by 2100 the average global temperature will likely increase 3 to 7 degrees F. 

United States Role

The United States is one of the largest contributors of global warming pollution, despite a recession-related drop in U.S. carbon dioxide emissions in 2009. Carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere increased in 2009, and projections are for continued increases in global CO2 emissions. 

Significance

The increasing temperature of the planet due to global warming will produce heat waves, declining air quality and illnesses carried by insects that proliferate in warmer temperatures. Effects on wildlife habitats and migratory patterns may cause some species extinctions if they are unable to adapt. A warming climate may cause common occurrences of floods and droughts, rising sea levels and violent storms. 

Solution

Reducing the pollution created by power plants and automobiles will help put a stop to global warming. Drive a well-maintained fuel-efficient vehicle; carpool, if possible. Conserve energy in your home by purchasing energy-efficient appliances and lighting, and weatherizing your home. Choosing renewable energy sources that use solar energy and wind to generate power can help combat global warming.

Catastrophic Event

Hurricane Sandy, one of the largest and fiercest storms to hit the East Coast in years caused widespread flooding, power outages and damage.

 Like any other catastrophic event the storm rescue process included the National Guard, Red cross, and FEMA. Emergency response was the key to dealing with the aftermath of this storm and so far healthcare professionals have responded well.

Video of the aftermath of the "Perfect Storm," Hurricane Sandy.