You guys DID PUT me in the hotseat for that, sorry BTW

Jim,

It must be hell being a subject instead of a citizen!

Hopefully you will never know!!

Getting off-topic here, but the Dutch have an excellent record of reducing antibiotic-resistant staph infections (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), and I assume that the strict control of antibiotic compounds (including ointments/creams) is one part of their national program to combat antibiotic-resistant infections. The Dutch began the program a long time ago, when antibiotic-resistant bacteria first started becoming a problem. Today, in US hospitals, roughly half of hospital-acquired staph infections are antibiotic-resistant. In Holland, it's less than 1%--among the lowest in Europe.

That's right.
But who thinks about that when you are in a survival situation with a infected wound <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

One aspect to consider that may influence this initial observation of a significantly reduced number of antibiotic resistant organisms in Dutch hospitals could be due to social-economic and various population diversity factors.

The fact that the Dutch have a significantly lower incidence of antibiotic resistant organisms may be due not so much as the prevention of creating such organisms, but the limited introduction of such organisms into the Dutch population.

Just a thought-

Pete

So does Holland have a low crime rate? If so, are they due to these laws?

It isn't the topical treatment of wounds with stuff like mycitracin or neosporin that causes resistance but rather the systemic use of antibiotics on a frequent basis. For example, we go to the doctor for colds and sore throats. It is a known fact that unless you still have your tonsils most likely your sore throat is of viral origin. That notwithstanding, you will receive a 10-day course of whatever the latest broad spectrum antibiotic the last drug rep was by with (I used to be one years ago). IF the sort throat was bacterial and not viral the most likely pathogen would be strep. Then the drug of choice is STILL penicillin. Not only would it work but it would cost pennies. You wouldn't get that. You would probably get Levaquin for a small fortune. That's why the cost of medical care has skyrocketed and bacterial resistance to antibiotics has become such a real problem. Nothing more complicated than that.

we have low crime rate compaired to many other countrys, but it's not just the laws that is the cause, it's way more complex than that.

That's just because we are very nice people <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

But now seriously, gang wars are are not so common overhere. They are gangs not as big and organised , but drive by shootings etc don't happen to often overhere. I think there is less crime, but what the influence of the laws is....

Furthermore, I did read the remark about being stoned. I can also comment on that. It's true that you can buy a little amount of softdrugs (somewhat legally). But it doesn't mean that everybody here uses drugs (most of us don't). I live near the border, and (sorry frenchy) most of the drugs customers here are from France. A positive thing about this system is that the dealing is taken out of the criminal circuit, what posibly reduces crime.