The Exinction of Antibiotics?

Scientists give it about ten years until antibiotics are deemed entirely ineffective.

This is a scary thought when you consider the number of bacterial inefections and diseases antibiotics have combatted since introduced 67 years ago. In those couple generations, we abused antibiotics enough to create resistant genes that scoff at even the most powerful forms of the medication.

Most recently, scientists discovered a gene called NDM 1 that causes resistance in bacteria like E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (both responsible for many human infections). The gene is already widespread in India and could spread through global travel. Currently, there are no known medications to treat NDM-produced infections.

So what does this mean for you?

Most obviously, the ‘extinction’ of antibiotics means few resources for combatting potentially-fatal infection. This could be devastating in cases of medical surgery, wherein cavities of the body are exposed to numerous bacteria.

Consider these statistics from the Health Protection Agency:   the chances of dying from hospital pneumonia or septicaemia (blood poisoning) are TWICE as high if the bacteria are drug-resistant. In the case of pneumonia, your odds of death could be as high as 60%.

So what do we do?

• PRIORITIZE. As I’ve always stressed, responsible antibiotic use is CRITICAL right now. In a society where doctors dole out meds like hot cakes, we need to tone it down and prioritize. Antibiotics should be used exclusively for surgery and serious infection.

 

• RESEARCH…OUT OF THE BOX.  Scientists also need to put money into exploring alternatives for antibiotics. And, no, I’m not necessarily saying stronger antibiotics; I would encourage them to consider herbs and natural remedies that contain antibiotic properties. Garlic, Goldenseal, Echinacea…, don’t rule these out entirely. Even derivatives of these herbs could prove beneficial.

 

• PREVENT. Perhaps above all, we should start to invest in illness prevention. Preventative medicine could be our most effective means of combatting the less severe conditions that currently warrant an antibiotic Rx. This could mean promoting probiotics and other natural remedies that bolster the immune system.

 

• CUT IT OUT! And last, but certainly not least…. GET THE ANTIBIOTICS OUT OF OUR FOOD. This responsibility lies with both the consumer and those in charge of regulating U.S. agriculture. I would venture to say that this is one of the leading causes of antibiotic resistance in our country.  

By hitting these points, we could buy ourselves a few more years of responsible antibiotic use. If the future of our health depends on it, we can’t act soon enough. Check out the entire article at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/aug/12/the-end-of-antibiotics-health-infections.

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