Antibiotics

It wasn't the fault of the spinach. The E. coli that sickened 200 people across the country, and killed at least three, has been traced to spinach from the Salinas Valley in California - but how did it get on the spinach? FBI agents acted on warrants last week to look through the paperwork of two companies; ultimately, though, the most important issue is finding the source of the pathogen. It could have been from contaminated processing equipment, but the far more likely explanation is that the E. coli came from cattle businesses upstream from the vegetable farms.

Two Maryland hospitals will soon begin testing methods to stop the spread of deadly antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a pilot project that could lead to changes in the way health care facilities statewide deal with this stubborn problem. About 120,000 patients in the United States were infected with the bacteria known as MRSA in 2002, according to data from the national Centers for Disease Control. Many hospitals have struggled to prevent infections because the bacteria can pass easily among patients and staff members, and through contact with contaminated equipment.

MARYLAND Grudge match takes shape As he prepares to announce his re-election bid and choose a running mate this week, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. finds himself where he always expected to be: in a tooth-and-nail fight against Mayor Martin O'Malley, ready to promote his accomplishments as governor and bash the Democrat for his record in running Baltimore. pg 1a Fines sought for noncompliance Waterfront developer Richard Swirnow, who defied an order to stop work on million-dollar homes that violated height restrictions, should be punished by the city, Baltimore councilmen and community residents said yesterday.

CHICAGO -- Antibiotic-free foods are not necessarily safer, according to an Institute of Food Technologists study to be released tomorrow. The study, conducted by a panel of food scientists and microbiologists, aims for the heart of the marketing campaigns in the past decade by organic food advocates who have suggested there is an overuse of antibiotics and that antibiotic-free foods are better for human consumption. One such group is the Organic Trade Association, based in Greenfield, Mass.

One of our sons and one of our daughters have recently been diagnosed as having iron-heavy blood - hemochromatosis. They have been told that cooking food in cast-iron pots and pans would be unhealthy for them. A scientist friend told our daughter that this was no longer true, as it has been determined that the amount of iron given off by this cookware is microscopic. Do you know which is correct? Hemochromatosis, a state of iron overload, is usually the result of a genetic mutation that makes the body absorb too much iron.

ADVISERS AT the Food and Drug Administration took time out last week to determine how best to regulate leeches and maggots for use on ailing humans. Turns out these creepy-crawlies are accounted as medical devices; the question is how stringent a review their "manufacturers" will have to undergo before they may bring them to market. Why "devices"? Because they chew, which is a mechanical process, says the FDA. One could call them the oldest bits of biotechnology. Certainly the squirmiest.

WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration took its first step yesterday toward stemming the increase of drug-resistant bacteria that could dangerously infect humans by banning the use of an antibiotic given to animals. The agency ordered off the market a drug commonly given to chickens and turkeys with respiratory infections. The use of the drug, Baytril, in poultry was contributing to the growth of an antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria that cause food-borne illnesses in humans, the agency determined.

DELAWARE uses more antibiotic animal feed additives per square mile than any other state, and Maryland is not far behind, according to a report issued last week by a national environmental group. The report by Environmental Defense claims that residents living near large chicken farms in the Delmarva region are at greater risk of exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Delaware, which has a large concentration of poultry farms in the southern region of the state, uses about 187,000 pounds of antibiotic additives per thousand square miles, according to the group, which identifies itself as a leading national nonprofit organization that seeks solutions to environmental problems.

They may be one of baseball's most pleasant surprises. They may be the majors' largest collection of unheralded stars. But don't call the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball's most improved team. These Diamondbacks have completely different personnel than the crew that lost 111 games in 2004. Troy Glaus, Shawn Green, Jose Cruz and Javier Vazquez have replaced Randy Johnson, Richie Sexson, Steve Finley and Shea Hillenbrand. "Frankly, for the guys here, last year was irrelevant. It's not even worth talking about because it's not even close to the same group," said second baseman Craig Counsell, who was with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2004.

CHICAGO - The staph infection on the bottom of Sammy Sosa's left foot is steadily improving, and while an Orioles physician said the original prognosis hasn't changed, team officials are confident that the outfielder's return will come sooner than anticipated. Doctors from Johns Hopkins Hospital performed a minor procedure yesterday to clean out the wound, and the antibiotics seem to be having the desired effect. "They had to do very little today," said team physician Dr. William Goldiner, who still projects that Sosa will miss two to four weeks.