Health Scan

Pets may endanger people with compromised immune systems.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
health scan 88 (photo credit: )
health scan 88
(photo credit: )
Should patients with compromised immune systems get rid of their pets to reduce their risks of infection? Doctors at Emek Medical Center and the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology suggest that for some patients, this may be a wise decision. The team, headed by Dr. Tzvi Davidovich at the Afula hospital, report in the latest issue of the Israel Medical Association Journal (IMAJ) on the case of a 64-year-old man diagnosed a decade ago with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and who remained in remission until he was admitted recently to the internal medicine department. After he started coughing without a fever, his health fund clinic doctor had prescribed medications, but when he became confused, had fever and shortness of breath, he was taken to hospital. He had not consumed non-pasteurized milk products, taken illicit drugs or drunk excessive amounts of alcohol; each of which could have caused such symptoms. But he did have a vaccinated cat that was used to licking and scratching him. It turned out that he had developed septicemia and osteomyelitis from the cat, which had transmitted a Pasteurella multocida infection. The authors noted that dogs can also be the source of this kind of bacterial infection. Not only bites but also scratching and licking can transmit this infection to people whose immune systems are weak. An editorial that appears in the same issue, written by infectious disease experts at Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Medical Center, advises that immuno-compromised patients stay away from all sick pets, including reptiles such as snakes, frogs and lizards that can transmit Salmonella, and that even healthy dogs carry potentially harmful bacteria in their mouths. Such patients should not clean fish tanks; if they do, they should wear gloves and wash their hands thoroughly afterwards. Guidelines from US Centers for Disease Control do not urge getting rid of all pets - except reptiles - if a person has a weak immune system. But they do recommend awareness of the risks and avoidance of unnecessary exposure. GRAPHIC DETERRENT TO SMOKING The Health Ministry has avoided making cigarette companies show disgusting images on their product of the damage caused by smoking. But other places have found this tactic works very well. The New York City health department has just begun to distribute free matchbooks with images of ravaged lungs, rotting gums and large, painful tumors. UPI reports that the illustrated matchbooks are free at 132 cigarette retailers in the South Bronx, East and Central Harlem, and North and Central Brooklyn. City health commissioner Thomas Frieden said that "throat cancer, gum disease, blackened lungs - these are the realities of smoking. Many countries put these images right on the cigarette packs, where they belong. While the US hasn't done this yet, we are putting the images where New Yorkers buy cigarettes, in the hope they'll think twice." The campaign draws inspiration from Australia, Brazil, Canada and other countries where cigarette packs carry graphic warnings. Studies suggest that the approach encourages smokers to quit, Frieden said. "The tobacco industry spends $13 billion each year promoting smoking by showing glamorous, healthful images," says Sarah Perl of the health department. "The reality of smoking is ugly and devastating." One wonders how thrilled the tobacco shops were about distributing matchbooks that could reduce their business. SWEET SOLUTION TO BURNS? It has been known for years that if you apply iodine ointment (povidone) to burns within the first few minutes, it reduces the pain and risk of scars and infection. But not everyone carries such ointment around. Now a review of studies carried out by researchers at the University of Auckland in New Zealand finds that ordinary honey has pretty much the same beneficial effect. Mind you, honey used with compression bandages does not significantly improve healing of venous leg ulcers, and the jury is still out on its effectiveness for other wounds, according to Dr. Andrew Jull and colleagues at the university. "The evidence currently does not support the use of honey on acute wounds such as abrasions and lacerations, or on minor, uncomplicated wounds left to heal following surgery," Jull said. The review appears in a recent issue of The Cochrane Library published by an international organization that evaluates medical research. Honey's history as a topical ointment for wounds stretches back into antiquity. An Egyptian surgical text, written on papyrus between 2600 BCE and 2200 BCE, recommends the treatment, as do the Greek, Chinese and Ayurvedic medical traditions. Later, caregivers used honey-soaked bandages until topical antibiotics became available after World War II. Dr. Jennifer Eddy, a University of Wisconsin researcher who is completing a study on honey treatments for diabetic foot ulcers, says patients might consider honey following a bad reaction to other topical treatments. "Topical honey is cheaper than other interventions, notably oral antibiotics, which are often used and may have other deleterious side effects," she said. Honey can draws moisture out of cells and contains hydrogen peroxide, both of which help kill off bacteria. Some varieties of honey have other antibacterial properties as well, the Cochrane researchers note. The review included 19 studies with 2,554 participants. Although the honey treatment healed moderate burns faster than traditional dressings did, Jull recommends viewing the findings with caution, since a single researcher performed all the burn studies. For the moment, Jull said, "health services should refrain from providing honey dressing for routine use" until there are more studies that show its effectiveness. At present, people most often use honey "when the wound was not improving with standard therapy," Eddy said.