As more empowerment and resources comes to First Nations group, new discoveries and technology may soon become available for use in a variety of settings.
In this article, a clay from Kisameet Bay, British Columbia, used by First Nations for centuries for its healing properties have been used in lab tests to kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Antibiotic-resistance bacteria has proven resilient and a danger to the population, particularly in hospital settings where there is a growing problem due to overuse of antiobiotics. This video highlights the microbiology of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
The research was published in the American Society for Microbiology’s mBio journal. Rare mineral clay is recommended to be studied as a treatment for serious infections caused by the so-called ESKAPE pathogens, which cause the majority of hospital infections and the effects of antibacterial drugs.
The acronym ESKAPE comes from the scientific names of the bacteria themselves:
- Enterococcus faecium.
- Staphylococcus aureus (also known as as the methacillin-resistant superbug MRSA).
- Klebsiella pneumoniae.
- Acinetobacter baumannii.
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Enterobacter species.
However, further studies and testing will be required before this clay can be made for hospital use.
I think this is an interesting breakthrough, not only for science/technology/healthcare, but for Canadian-First Nations relations. Reconciliation can take on many different forms, but with combined effort on both sides, something wonderful can be achieved.
