Preventing An Antibiotic Apocalypse | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Preventing An Antibiotic Apocalypse

A terrible future might be slowly approaching, and we need to act now to stop it.

60
Preventing An Antibiotic Apocalypse
Pixabay

Imagine a world where a simple paper cut could leave you fighting for your life. Where the most basic operations, like getting an appendix removed or a hip replacement, could become deadly.

Where cancer treatments and organ transplants could kill you, and childbirth could once again become a deadly moment in a woman's life. This could be our future; a future without antibiotics.

"We are in a post-antibiotic era," World Health Organization chief Margaret Chan declared earlier this year.

Her warning echoed a recent report that found antimicrobial resistance was responsible for more than 700,000 deaths worldwide in 2014 alone and could kill more than 10 million people each year by 2050.


Despite previous warnings, antibiotic use in humans and livestock continues to grow in many countries. Scientists say misuse and overuse of the drugs are two of the main contributors to resistance.

In the U.S. alone, 70 percent of antibiotics that are medically useful to humans are given to animals instead, and not just for treating disease but for promoting growth or compensation for poor farming practices.

Economist Jim O’Neill, a key researcher in the report on antimicrobial resistance, gives recommendations in the study that focus on reducing the wasteful use of our existing arsenal.

One of the first steps that need to be done is to improve sanitation. For richer countries it’s to reduce infections in hospital settings, and for poorer countries, it's ensuring clean water and overall better sanitation.

We also need a global surveillance network to understand the extent to which antibiotics are being used, the effectiveness of different bug/ drug combos and the spread of resistant microbes as well as the genes behind their powers.

A lot of human antibiotic use is wasteful too, not just the aforementioned agricultural use. Of the 40 million people who get antibiotics in the U.S. every year, only 13 million actually need them; the rest have viral infections and cannot be treated with drugs.

Due to this, a large public-awareness campaign would help. Many people don’t know how antibiotics work and can’t distinguish between bacterial and viral infections.

We can also begin to lift the pressure on antibiotic supply by promoting effective alternatives like vaccines, probiotics (beneficial bacteria), phages (bacteria-killing viruses), and immunotherapies (substances that stimulate the immune system).

Trying out these measures depend on scientists and doctors who specialize in infectious disease. Unfortunately, of the 25 main medical specialties in the U.S., infectious disease is the lowest paid and among the most unpopular.

Lastly, the report recommends creating a global innovation fund for early-stage research that complements a solution to also set up market-entry rewards.

Companies need to be rewarded for developing drugs rather than just selling them—or even insteadof selling them. Antibiotic resistance is a problem when there has not been a new class of antibiotics discovered since the 1980s.

This is a problem that requires a worldly effort from various leaders around the world and is not one that can be solved overnight.

It is crucial we try to tackle this multi-faceted issue as best we can. The way to begin is by awareness.

Let’s not steer our own future to turmoil by blindly succumbing to ignorance.



Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

2007
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1223
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200447
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21042
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments