Prescribing too many drugs brings back illnesses

January 14, 2003

Professor Koichiro Fujita of the graduate school of Tokyo Medical and

Dental University warns that the overuse of antibacterial agents like

antibiotics is one factor behind the reemergence of infectious diseases

that were thought to have been eradicated, such as tuberculosis.

Sounding the alarm over the modern fixation with cleanliness in

" Prescribing Too Many Drugs Leads to Outbreaks of Infectious Diseases "

(Bungei Shunju, January 2003), he explains that the original form of the

drug-resistant bacterium MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus

aureus), which is known to be transmitted in hospitals, existed in

symbiosis with humans but has now become harmful to them after becoming

resistant to antibiotics.

Fujita, who is famous for his research showing that parasites suppress

allergic reactions, says the trend toward supercleanliness in modern Japan

has resulted in the complete elimination of bacteria, parasites, and other

symbiotic organisms that are beneficial to humans.

He regards the Japanese obsession with being clean as the main cause of the

proliferation around the country of allergic conditions that were rare 40

years ago, such as hay fever, atopic dermatitis, and bronchial asthma.

He points out that 40 years ago people came into frequent contact with

roundworms and various kinds of bacteria and that this had the effect of

suppressing allergic reactions. (Kyodo News)

January 14, 2003

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