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Ethicon Media Monitoring 2/20/2018
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Campaigners hit back at a new plastic based mesh being developed in Sheffield that scientists say brings hope to women
Feb 19, 2018 | Ely Standard
By Emily Downing-Smith
The 21 year old, former Witchford Village College pupil writes about the pelvic mesh implant scandal, after researchers at Sheffield announced a new material to replace polypropylene mesh, used to treat prolapse and incontinence in women. -
New Antibiotic May Treat Chronic Pelvic Mesh Infections
Feb 19, 2018 | Mesh Medical Device Newsdesk
A Florida reader says she has been prescribed a new drug that seems to addressing her chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs), so common among many women who have had pelvic mesh implants.
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Feb 19, 2018 | Ely Standard
By Emily Downing-Smith
The 21 year old, former Witchford Village College pupil writes about the pelvic mesh implant scandal, after researchers at Sheffield announced a new material to replace polypropylene mesh, used to treat prolapse and incontinence in women.
However, campaigners say the so-called new wonder material, is made of polyurethane, which is still plastic and so far it has only been tested on a few chicken embryos.
Researchers say they have been working on the new material for six years as the polypropylene mesh sling implants, used widely in hospitals across Britain, is “frankly unacceptable.”
Scientists at the University of Sheffield have developed a ground-breaking new material which they hope could help thousands of women worldwide suffering pelvic organ prolapse or stress incontinence.
The current material used for mesh implants is polypropylene.
Corinda Daw, 52, a sales consultant from Harwich, Essex, had a mesh implant fitted in 2013 after childbirth left her with stress incontinence.
She says the mesh left her in “physical and emotional pain” and had to use catheters for months.
“I live in fear of the mesh poisoning and degrading inside my body, I wish I never had it done - I would rather be incontinent.”
She is not alone. Julie Gilsenan, 41, a paramedic from Liverpool, had a mesh fitted 12 months ago, but like many others suffers agonising consequences.
“I’ve endured a catheter, self-catheterising, countless infections, loss of sex life, loss of career and a world of pain. I’m almost totally incontinent - and I’m one of the lucky ones.
“I’ve been lied to and used. And I want to future proof my daughter’s to never suffer like I have. Mesh has destroyed my life.”
Last month the Government announced an audit of all women who have undergone the surgery since 2005, in order to find out the scale of the complications.
Since then scientists at Sheffield say they have found a new material, polyurethane, which is closer to human tissue characteristically, and has the female hormone, estradiol, inserted into the mesh to speed up the healing process.
Professor Sheila MacNeil, professor of tissue engineering at University of Sheffield said: “Polyurethane has a lot more elasticity – when you stretch it, it bounces back. The current material is quite strong, but when you stretch it, it distorts.
“We have been doing the right operation but with a material that had never been designed to go into the female pelvic floor.”
Sheffield scientists have been working on the new material for six years, but many are still critical of it.
Kath Sansom, of Sling the Mesh campaign group which now has more than 5,500 members, said: “It is like a horrible case of Groundhog Day. Have they learnt nothing from the past and the devastation of polypropylene?
“The key word here is ‘poly’, which means it is still made of plastic, which is unstable and can change once implanted.”
However, Dr Naside Mangir, a urology surgeon who helped develop the material, said: “We sympathise with the sceptics, because they are suffering due to these mesh complications, but actually we are on the same side – we are working for them.
“Not all plastics are bad – not all of them are good, but you need to design and use them purposefully. When we can do this, they help save lives.”
Commenting on the announcement, Owen Smith, chairman of the APPG on surgical mesh implants, said: “Whilst I welcome new interventions to treat stress urinary incontinence and prolapse, I would urge great caution over the use of synthetic materials to treat these conditions.
“It is crucial that lessons are learnt from the use of polypropylene mesh and the life-changing complications women have experienced since undergoing surgery.
“This new material must undergo rigorous and strict clinical trials and should only be used if such complications can be ruled out.”
Emily Downing-Smith, of Haddenham, is a second year journalism student at Sheffield University.http://www.elystandard.co.uk/news/sling-the-mesh-hits-back-at-scientists-from-sheffield-university-plastic-mesh-1-5400953
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New Antibiotic May Treat Chronic Pelvic Mesh Infections
Feb 19, 2018 | Mesh Medical Device Newsdesk
Mesh Medical Device News Desk, February 19, 2018~ A Florida reader says she has been prescribed a new drug that seems to addressing her chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs), so common among many women who have had pelvic mesh implants.
NEW ANTIBIOTIC FROM SHANDS
Many readers of Mesh News Desk (MND) report they have ongoing UTIs since their polypropylene mesh implant, whether it’s been removed or not.
If left untreated, a urinary tract infection can lead to serious kidney problems.
Many of these infections are resistant to the standard antibiotics on the market.
A doctor at Shands Hospital prescribed her a new drug that almost no one knows about.
Its called MONUROL.
MONUROL
Monurol, made by Allergan, the California-based company that makes Botox and Lexapro, among other drugs, was recently approved for use in USA, however its been used in Europe for some time now. The reader was prescribed a weekly dose and it appears to be working with no side effects.
The weekly dosage is $70, and about $35.00 in Canada and about $5 in most European countries. Coupons are available and in some cases, one can import drugs from a pharmacy in Canada or Europe.
The non-branded name is fosfomycin and the dosing information says it is for Acute cystitis caused by E. coli, E. faecalis. You dissolve one packed in 3-4 oz of water. Adverse effects include diarrhea, discomfort, anorexia, nausea, headache, rash and vomiting. One may also experience fatigue, and drowsiness and dizziness.
The manufacturer of Paladin Labs Inc of Quebec, Canada and made by Allergan, maker of Boxox and Lexapro among other drugs.
Here is the product monograph.
Here is the patient handout.
“It is pretty much a miracle drug for mesh victims who have these constant infections,” says our friendly reader. In her case, scar tissue formed around the urethra, which was partially severed.
Note* You may need a special prescription from an infectious disease doctor.
Insurance companies may not be aware of the effectiveness of this medication for mesh-induced UTIs.
AS A PREVENTATIVE
Mesh New Desk offers D-Mannose at a discount when purchased through Amazon. Please see the offer here.
A simple sugar, D-Mannose prevents E. coli bacteria from sticking to the urethra or bladder. See the offer here and be sure to put in the CODE that is just for MND readers to get a discount. Many readers swear by the product and it can be used as a prophylactic, for regular daily use to prevent UTIs.
FOREIGN BODIES
Foreign bodies have long been known as a potential source or reservoir for infection. The surface and some small spaces in the implants can harbor bacteria.
Pathologist Vladimir Iakovlev tells MND that is why he tries to remove all bullets, splinters and dead tissues around any infection. At his lab in Toronto, he has explanted 500 mesh specimens and reports scars can form inside or outside the mesh which harbors bacterial.
Read about his explanted mesh findings here.
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LEARN MORE:
MND, February 22, 2016, Still Standing on Medical Management of Mesh Complications, 2016
https://www.meshmedicaldevicenewsdesk.com/10425-2/MND, December 7, 2017, Pathologist on Mesh Explant Findings
https://www.meshmedicaldevicenewsdesk.com/pathologist-mesh-explant-findings/MND, July 21, 2017, Links Between Surgical Mesh and Autoimmune Disease
https://www.meshmedicaldevicenewsdesk.com/the-links-between-surgical-mesh-complications-and-the-development-of-autoimmune-diseases/MND, June 24, 2015, The Role of Bacterial Biofilm in Pelvic Mesh Slings
https://www.meshmedicaldevicenewsdesk.com/the-role-of-bacterial-biofilms-in-pelvic-mesh-slings-for-incontinence/https://www.meshmedicaldevicenewsdesk.com/new-antibiotic-may-treat-chronic-pelvic-mesh-infections/
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