The Golden Age Of Antibiotics Is Short Lived !

For as long as humans have existed so have diseases. There are many preventative measures and precautions people can take to minimize exposure to germs; such as washing your hands daily to avoid the simple flu or something as contagious as hepatitis. Although it would be ideal to prevent the spreading of all infections or bacteria to one another it’s actually impossible. The antibiotic era started in the early 1900’s by a man named Alexander Fleming, who discovered ways to defeat illnesses such as the common flu, cold, and more with an antibiotic. However, what Fleming could not predict was how the viruses would respond and retaliate against these new antibiotics. In the 1980’s was when scientists first discovered resistance building up in these viruses you can find the research article (here).

Flemming eventually discovered that viruses can be viewed as some sort of species with a life of their own and will always find a way to thrive in any environment like any other “living thing”. As seen with MRSA in hospitals, a type of staph bacteria that has become resistant to antibiotics allowing infection to spread and become life threatening. Although over the years hospitals have taken precautions to minimize staph infection patients are still at risk. The ultimate fight science face today is the rate at which viruses are exploiting the human body in cases such as cancer. Should we anticipate that one day we will have the research that will be the answer to eradicate viruses and harmful bacteria from our world or do we just accept the fact that it's a losing battle?

Thus far, scientists do not have the ultimate answer to eradicate all diseases. Throughout the years there have been many groundbreaking developments from which now we can cure malaria, varicella, mumps, measles and many other diseases that once would inevitably lead to death, but unfortunately during the past few decades new strains of bacteria have evolved and became resistant to antibiotics. This article here describes antibiotic drugs as delaying the inevitable, because only a few decades ago antibiotics were considered a “wonder” drug because it was actually effective. Currently science can only address these issues through tactics of slowing the rate at which bacteria become resistant and, also by applying our knowledge of evolution that living organisms will evolve when selective pressure is introduced. 

Posted by "Fredjah Desmezeaux" (7)