An issue for feminists?
It just occurred to me that antibiotic resistent bacteria would be especially hard on women, given the difference that those drugs have made in the risks of pregnancy. But while there are articles purporting to show the 'women's perspective' on just about every other topic, I can't find much written on this one.
Thanks TallyMan.
I should have been clearer about why I directed it to feminists. From my explanation:
"(a) I'd read about antibiotics being used preventively during childbirth, which I assume wouldn't be done if it weren't important to ensure the safety of the mother or child. (b) I knew that it's somewhat common for a newborn to become stuck in the birth canal, and that it can be deadly. (My father was taught how to perform "partial birth abortions," not as a birth control method, but to save the life of the mother in those cases. The alternative is a major operation that cuts the pelvis open. Doing that without antibiotics seems spooky.) (c) I considered that the risk of infection might actually be gender-equal. Since I'd already estimated that the risk during childbirth would be high, I looked for higher risks among men that might balance that out. I thought of two - sports and work - which used to account for higher mortality in young men. Since the social trends seem to be toward gender-equal sports participation, and away from dangerous manual labor, neither seemed likely to balance out the risks to women mentioned above."
The stories that I'd heard about complicated births from before penicillin sounded at least as bad as the horror stories about illegal abortions.
That's why I thought that it might be of particular interest to women's groups.
I looked to see if it were covered elsewhere already. I found one article that came close, but it dealt only with UTIs (which men also get). Other than that, I found articles on generic women's sites that covered antibiotic resistant bacteria, but all of them were taken from AP and other wire services. They were very general, and none asked which groups would be most impacted.
you do understand that it is not possible for one woman writer/blogger/whatever to speak for all women, right? that there is no such thing as 'women's perspective' as a collective thing, because women are not a collective with the same ideas and opinions. we're actually individuals.
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Thread unlocked? Hmmm?is there anyone currently in Hell who can give me an update on the weather? I think the temperature might have dropped slightly.
I should have been clearer about why I directed it to feminists. From my explanation:
"(a) I'd read about antibiotics being used preventively during childbirth, which I assume wouldn't be done if it weren't important to ensure the safety of the mother or child. (b) I knew that it's somewhat common for a newborn to become stuck in the birth canal, and that it can be deadly. (My father was taught how to perform "partial birth abortions," not as a birth control method, but to save the life of the mother in those cases. The alternative is a major operation that cuts the pelvis open. Doing that without antibiotics seems spooky.) (c) I considered that the risk of infection might actually be gender-equal. Since I'd already estimated that the risk during childbirth would be high, I looked for higher risks among men that might balance that out. I thought of two - sports and work - which used to account for higher mortality in young men. Since the social trends seem to be toward gender-equal sports participation, and away from dangerous manual labor, neither seemed likely to balance out the risks to women mentioned above."
The stories that I'd heard about complicated births from before penicillin sounded at least as bad as the horror stories about illegal abortions.
That's why I thought that it might be of particular interest to women's groups.
I looked to see if it were covered elsewhere already. I found one article that came close, but it dealt only with UTIs (which men also get). Other than that, I found articles on generic women's sites that covered antibiotic resistant bacteria, but all of them were taken from AP and other wire services. They were very general, and none asked which groups would be most impacted.
The people most at risk from antibiotic resistant bacteria are the ones who have to be in the hospital for an extended amount of time. The route of entrance is often tubing and people who are in the hospital awhile tend to have a lot of tubing: urinary catheters, IV lines, ventilator tubing etc. Although you did outline the risks, childbirth doesn't generally land women in that category. In most cases they are in and out in a few days.
The things that can land you in the hospital for an extended amount of time and therefore put you at the greatest risk are gender neutral. So it isn't really a feminist issue because men and women are at equal risk since childbirth doesn't actually present increased risk of that type of infection even though you would logically think it would. I'm sure google can find you some cases of pregnant women who did have that happen but they aren't the big risk group. It's people who must be in the hospital for a long time who are most at risk and that is evenly split between male and female. Anyone who has had a baby (me included) can tell you that they send you home just as fast as possible. It was a long term stay back in the day but not anymore. And that is safest, given antibiotic resistant bacteria.
You bet. It's troubled me for about a decade, and I was still male when I last checked.
The problem is that the votes aren't there to pass anything. It's pretty normal in those cases to engage groups that might have a particular interest. (Gay rights groups reached out to businesses with an interest in hiring and retaining good employees, even though they weren't exclusively connected to the issue.)
Yes, it will hurt me, too. Badly. But the main period of early-life risk for me is past, and it won't go up again until I'm over 60. Kids used to die of pneumonia all the time. I don't have a strong opinion about whether women have any special connection with children. Cannotthinkoff has said that "men dont give a sh*t" and that "90% dont want them." I always thought that I got along with kids pretty darned well, so I'll assume that she cares that much more than I do. Given that, I felt that it was reasonable to promote awareness that this is something that will kill kids in large numbers, even in the developed world.
There have been a few cases of community acquired MRSA in children but mostly it is lengthy hospital stays that pose the greatest risk. It won't kill kids in droves (because most kids don't have lengthy hospitalization), but if you really want to use the "Mom" angle, it poses a great risk to those kids who do have to be hospitalized at length.
edited to add: I have no idea how to word that without saying "long hospitalization" 3 times. Time to go to bed.
I dont think thats a feminists issue more of just a womans reproductive health issue where stronger vaccines should be implemented to remedy the antibiotic resistant bacteria. Microbes mutate and become new strains so new strains of vaccines should be made.
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Vaccines are more for viruses while antibiotics are for bacterial infections.
I should have been clearer about why I directed it to feminists. From my explanation:
"(a) I'd read about antibiotics being used preventively during childbirth, which I assume wouldn't be done if it weren't important to ensure the safety of the mother or child. (b) I knew that it's somewhat common for a newborn to become stuck in the birth canal, and that it can be deadly. (My father was taught how to perform "partial birth abortions," not as a birth control method, but to save the life of the mother in those cases. The alternative is a major operation that cuts the pelvis open. Doing that without antibiotics seems spooky.) (c) I considered that the risk of infection might actually be gender-equal. Since I'd already estimated that the risk during childbirth would be high, I looked for higher risks among men that might balance that out. I thought of two - sports and work - which used to account for higher mortality in young men. Since the social trends seem to be toward gender-equal sports participation, and away from dangerous manual labor, neither seemed likely to balance out the risks to women mentioned above."
The stories that I'd heard about complicated births from before penicillin sounded at least as bad as the horror stories about illegal abortions.
That's why I thought that it might be of particular interest to women's groups.
I looked to see if it were covered elsewhere already. I found one article that came close, but it dealt only with UTIs (which men also get). Other than that, I found articles on generic women's sites that covered antibiotic resistant bacteria, but all of them were taken from AP and other wire services. They were very general, and none asked which groups would be most impacted.
The people most at risk from antibiotic resistant bacteria are the ones who have to be in the hospital for an extended amount of time. The route of entrance is often tubing and people who are in the hospital awhile tend to have a lot of tubing: urinary catheters, IV lines, ventilator tubing etc. Although you did outline the risks, childbirth doesn't generally land women in that category. In most cases they are in and out in a few days.
The things that can land you in the hospital for an extended amount of time and therefore put you at the greatest risk are gender neutral. So it isn't really a feminist issue because men and women are at equal risk since childbirth doesn't actually present increased risk of that type of infection even though you would logically think it would. I'm sure google can find you some cases of pregnant women who did have that happen but they aren't the big risk group. It's people who must be in the hospital for a long time who are most at risk and that is evenly split between male and female. Anyone who has had a baby (me included) can tell you that they send you home just as fast as possible. It was a long term stay back in the day but not anymore. And that is safest, given antibiotic resistant bacteria.
On my last 2 pregnancies my midwife tested me for MRSA during late pregnancy as they do not let women go into hospital with it (they get rid of it before you go in).
Vaccines are more for viruses while antibiotics are for bacterial infections.
Vaccines can be (and are) developed for all sorts of diseases. Typhoid, diphtheria and tetanus are bacterial diseases for which vaccines exist.
I'm not really sure what it is you are asking.
Feminism is about society. Bacteria doesn't care or think of society.
Whilst this might be a subject of a women's issue. It is not specifically a feminist issue (unless there was some conspiracy you are suggesting)
Btw the risk in pregnancy whilst a good point, isn't fundamentally different to the risks after pregnancy.
The subject of sepsis is in part related to the mechanics of the anatomy, and there is not a lot that can be done about that other than prevention.
Generally we speak of young an old as vulnerable to infection. But there are actually some deceases that target 20 somethings more, or middle aged and not young an old.