Immunology and Infectious Diseases

Huang Wei Ling, born and Taiwan, raised in Brazil, graduated in medicine in Paraná, Brazil, and specialized in infectious and parasitic diseases, a General Practitioner and Parenteral and Enteral Medical Nutrition Therapist. She was coordinator of both the Infection Control and the Nutritional Support Committee in Sao Joaquim Hospital in Franca. She is the owner of the Medical Acupuncture and Pain Management Clinic, and since 1997 have been presenting her work worldwide with the approach and treatment of all diseases of the human body in a holistic way, with treatment guided through the teachings of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Hippocrates.

Introduction: Nosocomial infections are a widespread problem around the world. The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that nosocomial infections affect around 1.7 million patients per year, and cause 99.000 deaths. According to CDC, 32% of all healthcare acquired infections are urinary tract infections, 22% are surgical site infections, 15% are pneumonia and 14% are bloodstream infections. Nowadays, only 1/3 of nosocomial infections can be prevented with the Infection Control Programs. The other 2/3 cannot be prevented with the programs used nowadays. In USA, 31 billions of dollars are spend in the treatment of nosocomial infections per year.

 

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how this 2/3 of nosocomial infections could be controlled with the use ancient medicines reasoning, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Hippocrates theories. Another goal is to make evident the possible economy to healthcare when using these techniques and tools in the treatment of nosocomial infections.

 

Methods: The methodology used was a review of studies, such as those presented by Hippocrates (Natural forces within us are the true healers of disease.), as well as others from oriental medicines, which comprehend the disease as originated from three factors: external (exposure to cold, heat, humidity, wind and dryness), internal (emotional) and dietary.

 

Findings: When comprehending the patient in a broader view, considering the energy imbalances of Yin, Yang, Qi, Blood and Heat retention, it is possible to control and prevent better more nosocomial infections, reducing the costs for the healthcare’s.