Antibiotic 'apocalypse' warning

[Gooders1002]

The rise in drug resistant infections is comparable to the threat of global warming, according to the chief medical officer for England.

Prof Dame Sally Davies said bacteria were becoming resistant to current drugs and there were few antibiotics to replace them.

She told a committee of MPs that going for a routine operation could become deadly due to the threat of infection.

Experts said it was a global problem and needed much more attention.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21178718

This is worrying.

[Minimalist]

You mean...................They're EVOLVING?

What will the jesus freaks do?

[Nine]

What will the jesus freaks do?

Claim that we lost god protection or some BS.

[pocaracas]

Natural selection begins.... people with weak immune systems fall behind... oh, the horror!
But wait, this means pharmaceutical companies want more funding to develop more medication against this invisible threat. If video games have taught me one thing, it's that big pharma is never concerned with the well being of the people...

[Minimalist]

What will the jesus freaks do?

Claim that we lost god protection or some BS.

Yeah....like the fucker did such a good job during the Black Death.

[Something completely different]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phage_therapy

[TaraJo]

Our immune system is in a constant war with bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. Survival of the fittest has gone back and forth, with our immune system fighting them off and them evolving ways to get around our immune system. Then our immune system evolves to find a way around their defenses and the cycle continues, constantly.

The big change over the past 200 or so years is that instead of our biology changing, our technology has been what's changing. We aren't relying on our bodies to naturally product ways to fight off bacteria or viruses; we're developing antibiotics and vaccines. The problem is, if the bacteria is following the next logical step and evolving to get around those, our technology is going to also have to take the next step towards getting around the bacteria defenses.

All in all, the best advise for everyone is to wash your hands a lot and keep your environment clean.

[popeyespappy]

if the bacteria is following the next logical step and evolving to get around those, our technology is going to also have to take the next step towards getting around the bacteria defenses.

Funny you should mention that. Synthetic Corkscrew Peptide Kills Antibiotic-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria

[downbeatplumb]

One of the worst things is the overuse of antibiotics by farmers.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/s...griculture

and people not taking a full course just stopping when they feel better, getting antibiotics for viruses pointlessly, people hoarding antibiotics and using them when they are out of date or stored incorrectly.

Stupid people are ruining the wonder drugs for the rest of us.

[TaraJo]

if the bacteria is following the next logical step and evolving to get around those, our technology is going to also have to take the next step towards getting around the bacteria defenses.

Funny you should mention that. Synthetic Corkscrew Peptide Kills Antibiotic-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria

Yep. If this becomes a practical treatment, the next step is that the bacteria will evolve a way to resist the synthetic corckscrew peptide. When that happens, we'll have to develop new technologies to get past their new defenses. It's a continuing cycle.