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Deadly, antibiotic resistant bacteria may claim millions next year

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It's not a surprise. Bacteria already have some natural resistance, as they (and other organisms) make these compounds to fight and communicate with one-another, in fact, a recent study highlights this in a genomic analysis of a bug that caused dysentery during WWI: 30 years before the introduction of penicillin, this bacteria already harbored penicillin-resistance genes.

On the other hand, we're also driving this rapid evolution through: spurious use of antibiotics for non-bacterial infections, using antibiotics simply to make farm animals grow faster (low-level antibiotic exposure has been shown to enrich resistance genes in bacterial communities), over-the-counter antibiotic availability in places like India coupled with poor sanitation and sewage treatment, and not taking antibiotics as directed (eg: don't just use antibiotics till you feel better, use them as directed).
 
Brainonska511 said:
It's not a surprise. Bacteria already have some natural resistance, as they (and other organisms) make these compounds to fight and communicate with one-another, in fact, a recent study highlights this in a genomic analysis of a bug that caused dysentery during WWI: 30 years before the introduction of penicillin, this bacteria already harbored penicillin-resistance genes.

On the other hand, we're also driving this rapid evolution through: spurious use of antibiotics for non-bacterial infections, using antibiotics simply to make farm animals grow faster (low-level antibiotic exposure has been shown to enrich resistance genes in bacterial communities), over-the-counter antibiotic availability in places like India coupled with poor sanitation and sewage treatment, and not taking antibiotics as directed (eg: don't just use antibiotics till you feel better, use them as directed).
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People should be scanned for bacterial infections upon arrival at all major airports. Positive results should result in quarantine. :colbert:
 
Meh, I'm more worried about new strains of killer fungus. I don't have time to worry about bacteria. 🙂
 
The people who will survive will be the ones who do not use anti bacterial soap and do not wash their hands all the time.
 
T9D said:
This is still theoretical.
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No its not. There's quite a lot of bugs that have developed resistance to our most overused antibiotics. There's a few that are resistant to a lot of antibiotics and (IIRC) there's at least one that's resistant to all of our antibiotics.
 
WelshBloke said:
Yes millions (tens of probably). That's assuming that we don't find something to replace them with.
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Ok, eventually the cumulative death toll will reach the millions, but it will not happen next year as our brain damaged OP claims.

Existing antibiotics are good for a while yet, and you can bet that billions in R&D will be thrown at antibiotics just as soon as the suits think there's enough profit to be made. Granted, the suits are generally self-serving myopic dicks so it's likely that will come later than it should, but that's no reason to panic, not yet at least.
 
Ruptga said:
Ok, eventually the cumulative death toll will reach the millions, but it will not happen next year as our brain damaged OP claims.

Existing antibiotics are good for a while yet, and you can bet that billions in R&D will be thrown at antibiotics just as soon as the suits think there's enough profit to be made. Granted, the suits are generally self-serving myopic dicks so it's likely that will come later than it should, but that's no reason to panic, not yet at least.
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Or you know, developing antibiotics is an absurdly expensive process that has miles of red tape, testing requirements, and requires years and billions of dollars for a chance at making money?
 
NikolaeVarius said:
Or you know, developing antibiotics is an absurdly expensive process that has miles of red tape, testing requirements, and requires years and billions of dollars for a chance at making money?
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Maybe, I don't really care either way. We are not all going to die next year, and regardless of what's standing in the way, be it red tape or myopic profit-seeking, shit will get done when the situation gets urgent.
 
It is a real problem but we are not India and their health care system means nothing to a developed Western one.
 
My theory is that the drug companies will team up with the oil companies to produce a new antibiotic that uses oil as it's main ingredient simply for profit. This antibiotic will eventually lead to a new form of cancer that eventually leads to the zombification of the world.

I don't know what happens beyond that as my crystal ball is fuzzy but I think I saw dinosaurs.
 
ImpulsE69 said:
My theory is that the drug companies will team up with the oil companies to produce a new antibiotic that uses oil as it's main ingredient simply for profit. This antibiotic will eventually lead to a new form of cancer that eventually leads to the zombification of the world.

I don't know what happens beyond that as my crystal ball is fuzzy but I think I saw dinosaurs.
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Obama thumbsup
 
If you think about it, there is not enough jobs in the US for the output of humans being generated. So nature will fix that,
 
lozina said:
It's not just the drug companies fault.

I blame you pussy ass whimps equally.

"Oh, boo hoo I have a cold I need to go to the doctor!"

Suck it up bitches and fight the cold like a man!
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Try explaining that to the general public, who has the collective IQ of a brain dead monkey.
When people go to the doctor, they expect to be given some sort of treatment. So the doctor gives them some cheap antibiotics, collects their kickback from the drug company, and calls it a day. Patient feels like something is being done, and they're happy. Ah, the good old placebo effect.

I think doctors knew the risks but ultimately turned a bind eye for the simple sake of making their own jobs easier. Huge mistake. Ultimately though, it's lack of scientific understanding among the general public that's the bigger issue. I know that you can't treat viral infections with antibiotics. I also have a pretty good idea about which common illnesses are viral or bacterial. But I'd wager most folks don't.
 
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