Infectech, Inc., reports validation of mycobacteria avium complex kit.

2004 DEC 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Nutra Pharma Corp., (OTCBB: NPHC) Infectech, Inc. (Pink Sheets: IFEC) has received further verification of its technology by Dr. Paul Hyman of Ohio State University.

Hyman has achieved the identification of Mycobacteria avium complex (MAC) using DNA amplification in a much shorter time than can be accomplished with current methodology.

"M. avium could be detected significantly sooner than expected for normal culture techniques," stated Hyman, PhD. Hyman is the primary investigator in Infectech's ongoing validation studies. "Sufficient DNA for PCR (gene amplification) could be extracted from paraffin that had no visible colonies on it," he continued.

Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare are very similar bacteria which are usually grouped together. In America, they are usually described as Mycobacterium avium complex, or MAC. They belong to the same family as the organism that causes tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis).

MAC is the primary bacterial infection associated with "wasting syndrome" of HIV/AIDS patients and is the leading cause of death among these patients worldwide. MAC are routinely resistant to antituberculosis drugs and there has been no standardized method for determining antibiotic sensitivity. In HIV/AIDS patients, MAC is usually diagnosed after symptoms appear. The diagnostic screen utilizes a blood test. At this time, mortality is very high and time to death is estimated at 4 months.

It has been estimated by world health authorities that more than 70% of AIDS patients harbor an MAC infection. The bacteria affect the bone marrow, spleen, liver and lungs. It also compromises the lymph nodes, thereby further destroying the patient's immune system. This may cause high fevers, severe anemia, night sweats, chills, weight loss, loss of appetite and weakness. If the gut is involved, symptoms can include chronic diarrhea with malabsorption of nutrients, and abdominal pain due to ulcers in the gut.

It has been shown that MAC also causes opportunistic infections among nonHIV infected pediatric and elderly persons. Infectech's technology allows for the rapid culturing and identification of MAC. It will also provide viable treatment options by testing the particular strain's antibiotic sensitivity. By using saliva or stool samples, this process could identify an infection as much as 10 months before the bacterium could be found in blood samples and well before symptoms begin.