5 ms·
As a physician probably my single most feared infection is a MRSA (or any Staph.) bloodstream infection. It’s a sticky bacterium that likes to destroy heart val
by _qua 3y ago
As a physician probably my single most feared infection is a MRSA (or any Staph.) bloodstream infection. It’s a sticky bacterium that likes to destroy heart valves and joints. I’m personally a bit of a medical nihilist but antibiotics often work to treat it and I would not be eager to do the n=1 trial of the shortest effective duration.
- Waterluvian 3y agoBankruptcy may very well do greater collective harm. Pretty horrifying to even have to weigh that variable.
- John23832 3y agoAs much as bankruptcy is horrible, it’s does not compare to the immediate harm of a disseminated MRSA infection. Let’s not be hyperbolic.
- Waterluvian 3y agoI think you’re very fortunate to not have known anyone who has had to make that calculation.
- John23832 3y agoThere is no calculation to make. If you have an untreated MRSA infection, you will die. Now whether the treatment can be overly prosecuted is a different question. You can set a broken bone yourself. You cannot treat MRSA. You do not walk out of a hospital with untreated MRSA AMA.
- Brian_K_White 3y agoIf the harm is so great to all of society, then surely all of society would ensure that no one ever has to even think about cutting any treatments short. Or, even if it's just the knowledgeable and responsible medical profession who knows how important that is, then surely that same knowledgeable and responsible medical profession would ensure that no one ever has to think about doing something they claim to care so much about avoiding. Right? This responsibility to others argument falls dead flat.
- xscott 3y agoI would rather die than lose all my retirement savings and be forced to find a job in my 60s or 70s. No hyperbole at all.
- John23832 3y agoWith an untreated MRSA infection, you wouldn't live to your 60' or 70's. No worries.
- NoMoreNicksLeft 3y ago> It’s a sticky bacterium that likes to destroy heart valves Do those grow back crooked or something?
- woleium 3y agoI don’t believe they grow back at all.
- _qua 3y agoNo they get destroyed leading to hear failure and shock needing surgical replacement if you survive
- cratermoon 3y agoAdult heart cells (cardiac muscle) don't regenerate. Once they're gone, they're gone.