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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Gut Reactions: Quantitative Predictions Of The Responses Of Human Gut Microbiota To Medical Interventions, Amy Elizabeth Langdon
Gut Reactions: Quantitative Predictions Of The Responses Of Human Gut Microbiota To Medical Interventions, Amy Elizabeth Langdon
Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The collection of microbes known as the human microbiome perform vital functions for their host, and when this community becomes unhealthy, its dysbiosis is implicated in a myriad of diseases. The gut microbiota in particular are known to suppress colonization of opportunistic pathogens, regulate the immune system, aid in nutrient breakdown, produce vitamins, and a growing number of other functions. In order to intervene in a dysbiotic microbial ecology, we can try to remove unwanted microbes or try to recolonize the gut with microbes expected to be beneficial. This dissertation provides an overview of the state of medical interventions for …
The Social Dynamics Of Antibiotic Use In A Large American Medical Complex, Katharina Rynkiewich
The Social Dynamics Of Antibiotic Use In A Large American Medical Complex, Katharina Rynkiewich
Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Based on 18 months of anthropological fieldwork, 35 in-depth interviews, and over 360 hours of participant observation with two specialty physician groups, my dissertation is an analysis of the social dynamics involved in antibiotic decision making, prescription, and use at a large North American medical complex in a Midwestern city. Due to the global problem of antimicrobial resistance, hospitals have been particularly interested in reducing antibiotic overuse and misuse. Though the use of antibiotics has long had an impact at the population level, physicians often advocate for additional antibiotic coverage in the individual patient. I examine a policy aimed at …