Chapter 579 Human body temperature dropped by 0.4 degrees, fever medicine
After a pause, the leader of the CDC looked at the doctor who made the proposal meaningfully.
"As far as I know, there are more than 120,000 species of fungi that have been discovered, and there are no anaerobic bacteria among them. After testing by our CDC, we found that this unknown pathogen is a eukaryotic organism that has a eukaryotic cell, can produce spores, and does not have chloroplasts. We can basically rule out the possibility that it is a bacterium."
I don’t know how the leader of the health unit who made the suggestion just now studied biology?
What he said was totally unsound.
So much so that after being refuted by the leader of the CDC, he made a big fool of himself.
"Well, the foreign bureau just didn't trust your CDC's test, so they deliberately used this method to confirm what kind of highly contagious bacteria this is."
A chief physician who was attending the consultation nearby hurried to help Director Yang smooth things over.
The current official is not as good as the current manager.
Director Yang is a director-level leader of the Health Bureau and is in charge of the hospital.
In contrast, the CDC leader named Shu has much weaker supervisory power over hospitals.
"So that's how it is! Director Yang's concerns are justified. After all, this pathogen has never been discovered by people. It's better to be cautious." Director Shu of the CDC didn't want to have a grudge with Director Yang.
He quickly took advantage of the situation and passed the matter over with one sentence.
According to the level of authority, the CDC is also under the leadership of the Health Bureau.
You must not offend him to death.
"Director Shu, I wonder if your CDC has detected which phylum this unknown pathogen belongs to?" Director Yang maintained a dignified look on his face.
"It belongs to the phylum Ascomycota! In terms of species, it is a relatively common type of fungus."
Leader Shu replied hurriedly.
Ascomycota are the largest group of fungi.
It is known as a higher fungus along with the basidiomycetes; the reproductive hyphae cells appear in a shorter binucleate stage and one feature that distinguishes it from other fungi is the production of asci.
"Well, since it belongs to the Ascomycetes, it should be easier to deal with. Does penicillin have no effect on this unknown fungus?" Director Yang nodded and asked again.
Since penicillin was discovered by humans to be an effective bactericidal agent, it is still widely used today.
Its bactericidal effect is also obvious to all.
"We have already conducted experiments and found that penicillin has almost no effect on this unknown fungus. Antibiotics including streptomycin, chloramphenicol, oxytetracycline, tetracycline, etc. are also ineffective against this unknown fungus. Even some compound drugs, such as naftifine ketoconazole, are ineffective against this unknown fungus. Due to the short detection time, many characteristics of this unknown fungus are still in the observation and research stage."
Director Shu's words made everyone present feel heavy-hearted.
You know, with the development of human medical technology today, it can fight almost all diseases, thanks to the antibiotics developed by humans.
But at this moment, all the "biological weapons" that humans are so proud of have become ineffective.
This is a very scary thing.
Just like a woman in the United States who uses antibiotics to treat any minor illness like a cold.
The woman became increasingly dependent on antibiotics.
The bacteria in the body gradually developed strong drug resistance and continued to evolve.
Later, every time the woman fell ill, she had to increase the level and dosage of antibiotics.
This is a completely vicious cycle.
Because it takes humans at least ten years to research a new antibiotic, while bacteria can reproduce every twenty minutes and evolve a new generation in only about two years.
In other words, the speed at which humans develop new antibiotics is far slower than that of bacteria.
Finally, tragedy struck.
The woman who abused antibiotics fell ill again.
Although this was just a minor cold, the doctor found that the pathogenic bacteria in her body had a strong immunity to all human antibiotics.
In other words, human antibiotics can no longer eliminate the super bacteria that have evolved in this woman's body.
The woman eventually died.
It is this tragedy that sounded the alarm for mankind.
Since then, human scientists and doctors have begun to seriously study how super bacteria are produced and what are the disadvantages of people abusing antibiotics?
After research, it was finally discovered that antibiotics are actually a double-edged sword.
While eliminating pathogens, it will also cause them to develop drug resistance, causing them to evolve and mutate faster.
It's becoming increasingly difficult to deal with.
At this time, human scientists finally realized the serious consequences of the abuse of antibiotics, which would only make originally simple diseases more difficult to treat and more likely to give rise to a large number of super bacteria that humans could not deal with.
Many developed countries have enacted laws and treaties to regulate the correct use of antibiotics.
Today, China, a country that once had the most serious problem in the use of antibiotics, has also begun to strictly guide medical institutions and pharmacies to use antibiotics correctly and reasonably.
Even in backward rural areas, the phenomenon of people running to the clinic for an IV drip just because they have a minor cold has been reduced a lot.
"Director Shu, do you think this unknown fungus could be a super fungus like the super bacteria that once appeared in the United States?" Li Quan asked.
"That's possible." Director Shu said with a serious expression.
Just then, Director Shu's cell phone rang.
After he answered the call, his expression became more serious.
"The CDC laboratory called just now and provided some new research results on this unknown fungus. They suck human blood to obtain nutrients. If the temperature is above 60 degrees Celsius for half an hour, they will lose their vitality. High concentrations of alcohol can kill them."
These findings could not be more timely.
After hearing this, everyone was excited.
"That's great. Alcohol and temperatures above 50 degrees can kill them. At least we have found a drug and method to deal with them."
Director Yang took out a pack of tissues and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
I believe that everyone here is under tremendous pressure.
There has been significant progress in the research on this unknown fungus. Now that we know what methods can be used to eliminate it, people are not as scared as before.
It is just like many people are influenced by feudal superstition and are afraid of ghosts, zombies, vampires, ghosts from hell and other supernatural monsters. It is because people do not know how to eliminate these things.
If people knew that fire could burn them to death and guns could kill them, would they still be afraid of ghosts and gods?
"Alcohol can kill this unknown fungus, and it can only be used for disinfection and to prevent infection to others. But it cannot be used to treat patients. The other high-temperature killing method is also difficult to use in practice. If we humans stay in a high-temperature environment of 60 degrees, let alone stay for more than half an hour, even if we stay for ten minutes, I'm afraid it will be difficult to bear."
The person who spoke was the director of the First Hospital of Beijing.
His words were like pouring a bucket of cold water on everyone.
Just like rabies, once infected, it is basically 100% fatal.
The same is true for this unknown fungus.
Alcohol cannot be used inside the human body. Once infected, this fungus should lurk in the human blood, muscles, internal organs and other tissues.
Almost everywhere.
If you use alcohol to kill them, I'm afraid that the patient will die before the unknown fungi are killed.
"It is indeed impossible to kill the unknown fungi in the patient's body with alcohol. But I think high temperature killing is worth further study. According to my understanding of fungi, bacteria, and viruses, this unknown fungus can be killed in half an hour at a high temperature of 60 degrees. So it is very likely that lowering the temperature to 50 degrees for two hours, or even longer, can also achieve the effect of killing them."
Director Shu is worthy of being the director of the CDC.
There is a lot of in-depth research on how to kill fungi.
The point he made made everyone present's eyes light up.
Yes, the human body cannot withstand a high temperature of 60 degrees for a long time, so we should lower the temperature and extend the sterilization time.
"Director Shu, I think your suggestion is quite good. We should do multi-faceted research. On the one hand, we can continue to explore whether other drugs can kill this unknown fungus. On the other hand, we can test the survival time of this unknown fungus in various high temperature environments."
Director Yang's medical skills were mediocre, and he even made a fool of himself in public.
But when it comes to some major decisions, he is quite capable and decisive.
"Speaking of high-temperature sterilization, I also have a small suggestion." Li Quan interrupted again at this time.
"Oh, please!"
Director Yang looked at Li Quan.
This young dean from Shanghai performed quite exceptionally well during the consultation.
I'd like to hear what good suggestions he has.
"According to statistics from modern scientists, our human body temperature has been declining. In the past two hundred years, our human body temperature has dropped by 0.4 degrees. Two hundred years ago, our normal human body temperature was basically 37 degrees, but today, it is basically around 36.6 degrees.
This is not a good thing.
A drop in body temperature means that our human immunity also decreases.
My personal suggestion is that the three antique dealers who were initially infected with the unknown fungus are rapidly deteriorating. If nothing unexpected happens, their skin will soon roll up and fall off. By then, it will be difficult to save them. "
Medical staff who have worked in the burn intensive care unit know this.
If a person's body is burned over 40% of its surface area, his or her life will be in danger.
The epidermis is equivalent to a protective film of the human body, and it is the outermost layer.
When they are damaged, the human body loses the most important layer of protection and is easily invaded and infected by various pathogens.
At the same time, the corresponding organs will also be damaged.
Therefore, patients with burn area greater than 40% are very likely to be in danger of death.
Basically, the larger the burn area, the lower the survival rate.
Cracks have begun to appear on the skin of the three antique dealers . If their condition continues to worsen, it will be equivalent to 100% burns on their entire bodies.
Once it develops to that extent, it will be impossible to save it.
Even if a drug is discovered that can fight this unknown fungus, there is no way to save them.
"Dean Li Quan, what do you mean?"
Director Shu seems to be a straightforward person who doesn't like to beat around the bush.
"What I mean is that we should immediately find a way to raise the patient's basal body temperature so that the unknown fungi in their bodies can be suppressed. As long as we can slow down their reproduction and expansion, their condition will no longer deteriorate rapidly. This is equivalent to buying precious time for the patient's treatment."
Li Quan’s opinion is very good.
After hearing this, Director Yang and others nodded repeatedly.
"It is easy to raise the patient's body surface temperature, but it is not easy to raise the patient's body temperature comprehensively." The director of the Beijing No. 1 Hospital took over the conversation.
He is telling the truth.
It is difficult and involves certain risks to raise the patient's basal body temperature.
No one dares to operate it easily.
"I have a dose of Chinese medicine for fever, which can raise the patient's body temperature by about two degrees." Li Quan said directly.
"Chinese medicine for fever?"
Everyone looked at Li Quan in surprise again.
This young doctor is quite extraordinary.
The proposed solution is also very special.
"Yes, this is a pure Chinese medicine prescription with few negative effects. The patient's condition is getting worse, and his physical condition will definitely get worse as well. Taking this Chinese medicine for fever that I prescribed will have little effect on the body, and will actually have certain benefits."
Li Quan nodded seriously.
Everyone has heard of antipyretic drugs and has prescribed them to patients personally.
But this is the first time I've heard of fever medicine.
But seeing that Li Quan didn't look like he was joking, they believed it even though they didn't want to.
"Special matters should be handled specially. If Dean Li is sure, please prescribe medicine for the patient."
The person who spoke was the director of the First Hospital of Beijing.
Originally, it should have been Director Yang who spoke because he was the highest-ranking person here, but he did not speak out to agree with Li Quan's plan.
Instead, he looked at the director of the First Hospital of Beijing and asked him to speak on his behalf.
These people are in high positions and have a profound understanding of interests and concerns.
If the fever medicine prescribed by Li Quan worked, it would be a great achievement. Everyone would be happy.
If a patient's condition becomes more serious or even dies after taking fever medicine, who will take the responsibility?
Director Yang is absolutely unwilling to take this responsibility.
"Okay, I'll prescribe medicine for the patient right away. By the way, since the patient has a fungal infection, according to the normal response of the human body, a bacterial infection should cause a fever. Have you measured the patient's temperature?"
Before taking the medicine, Li Quan decided to get the situation clear.
The human body has a complete set of complex immune response mechanisms.
When the human body is attacked by viruses or bacteria, the body will respond with an immune system, which is what people often call fever or inflammation.
"The patient's temperature has been measured several times and has not been elevated. This unknown fungus is very powerful and seems to be able to paralyze the body's immune defense system."
The person who answered was the director of the First Hospital in Beijing.
As the dean, he is very busy, but he has a clear understanding of the situation of the three antique dealers, which shows his competence.
"Okay, I'll prescribe medicine for the three patients now."
Li Quan took a pen and paper and quickly wrote a prescription.
The above medicines are all Chinese medicinal materials.
"This is the fever medicine I prescribed. Just follow the prescription and boil it. After the patient takes it, if nothing unexpected happens, the body temperature will rise by about two degrees in four hours."
Li Quan handed the prescription to the director of the First Hospital of Beijing.
