Why funding science research matters - antibiotic resistance on the rise

[Junior]

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/30/world-heath-organization-antibiotic-resistance-is-now-a-reality/

 

Conservative estimates in the United States alone suggest 2 million people get antibiotic-resistant infections each year, and at least 23,000 die because current drugs no longer stop their infections. The WHO cannot provide global statistics, Fukuda says, because many countries have no estimates at all or conduct surveillance of resistance to superbugs. Only 22 countries provided data on surveillance for this report.

 

Bacteria and other microbes have been humans’ worthy opponents for a long time. But drug developments, such as the discovery of penicillin and the emergence of other antibiotics, transformed medical care and dramatically reduced illness and death from infectious diseases.

 

But in mere decades, with the overuse of antibiotics to raise bigger pigs and cattle and people failing to take prescribed drugs for the entire time, microbes have turned into superbugs for which medical weapons are quickly dwindling – and thus turning into deadly, unstoppable killers around the globe.

 

[VectorVictor]

http://thechart.blog...-now-a-reality/

 

Conservative estimates in the United States alone suggest 2 million people get antibiotic-resistant infections each year, and at least 23,000 die because current drugs no longer stop their infections. The WHO cannot provide global statistics, Fukuda says, because many countries have no estimates at all or conduct surveillance of resistance to superbugs. Only 22 countries provided data on surveillance for this report.

 

Bacteria and other microbes have been humans' worthy opponents for a long time. But drug developments, such as the discovery of penicillin and the emergence of other antibiotics, transformed medical care and dramatically reduced illness and death from infectious diseases.

 

But in mere decades, with the overuse of antibiotics to raise bigger pigs and cattle and people failing to take prescribed drugs for the entire time, microbes have turned into superbugs for which medical weapons are quickly dwindling – and thus turning into deadly, unstoppable killers around the globe.

 

This stuff is scary, and I'm shocked that there hasn't been a bigger response to it. This has the potential to generate a new pandemic if it's not acted on.

[Junior]

http://thechart.blog...-now-a-reality/

 

Conservative estimates in the United States alone suggest 2 million people get antibiotic-resistant infections each year, and at least 23,000 die because current drugs no longer stop their infections. The WHO cannot provide global statistics, Fukuda says, because many countries have no estimates at all or conduct surveillance of resistance to superbugs. Only 22 countries provided data on surveillance for this report.

 

Bacteria and other microbes have been humans' worthy opponents for a long time. But drug developments, such as the discovery of penicillin and the emergence of other antibiotics, transformed medical care and dramatically reduced illness and death from infectious diseases.

 

But in mere decades, with the overuse of antibiotics to raise bigger pigs and cattle and people failing to take prescribed drugs for the entire time, microbes have turned into superbugs for which medical weapons are quickly dwindling – and thus turning into deadly, unstoppable killers around the globe.

 

This stuff is scary, and I'm shocked that there hasn't been a bigger response to it. This has the potential to generate a new pandemic if it's not acted on.

 

Yep, it is a real problem. Far more dangerous than terrorism, drones, or Obama's tyranny. Sadly it is only going to get worse, because as a country, we have decided it is better to give a tax break to rich, or fund the military rather than scientific research that could literally save 23,000 lives per year.

[carlfense]

Yikes. Scary stuff. We do need more government funding for antibiotic research because developing new antibiotics isn't nearly as lucrative for business as say . . . cancer drugs.

[Junior]

Yikes. Scary stuff. We do need more government funding for antibiotic research because developing new antibiotics isn't nearly as lucrative for business as say . . . cancer drugs.

 

Or, and I'm being very serious here, more hairloss and erectile dysfunction drugs.

[Excel]

Antibiotic resistance on the rise: also why finishing a full course of antibiotics and not going to the doctor and whining until you get antibiotics for viruses matters. I've never understood why people visit the doctor for a cold or flu. There is nothing they can do.

[Junior]

Yikes. Scary stuff. We do need more government funding for antibiotic research because developing new antibiotics isn't nearly as lucrative for business as say . . . cancer drugs.

 

Also, we need funding for all levels of scientific research. Basic science like research on bacterial metabolism and gene regulation lays the groundwork for antibiotic development.

[carlfense]

Antibiotic resistance on the rise: also why finishing a full course of antibiotics and not going to the doctor and whining until you get antibiotics for viruses matters.

Agreed. The continuous dose of antibiotics used to raise our livestock/poultry is also going to be a big problem down the road . . .