Are we at risk of losing antibiotics?                                          

            Antibiotics have been around for about 80 years ago and there aren’t many people alive today who know what life was like without them. Prior to the discovery of penicillin, bacterial infections that have nearly been eliminated from the planet killed more soldiers during wartime than weapons did and changed the course of history. Is there a danger that we will lose these precious medications?

            The media carry warnings that resistance to antibiotics is a threat to our lifestyle and there may be some truth to that. In reality, the vast majority of infections remain susceptible to readily available antibiotics. Only a very few are actually resistant to all known antibiotics. Even MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus), which infects nearly 100,000 persons a year and has now spread into the general community, is susceptible to newer antibiotics or combinations of them. The most resistant strains of tuberculosis are limited to certain parts of the globe and are rare in the United States.

            As long as civilization remains intact our ability to treat bacterial disease will remain not much different than it is today. Some antibiotics will become less effective and it’s true that the pharmaceutical industry has few new ones in the pipeline but the risk that we will lose most of our antibiotic arsenal is a small one.  Further, we have developed vaccines that have markedly diminished the incidence of diseases such as meningitis and pneumonia, once among the most common killers, especially during childhood.

            These are red flags however, and we should do what we can to avoid infection in the first place by eliminating risk factors. Obesity and type 2 diabetes increase the danger of serious bacterial infections as well as a viral disease, influenza. Many foodborne infections are avoidable with sensible precautions during food preparation and cooking at proper temperatures. Although MRSA is everywhere a few simple steps can limit its spread: wash your hands frequently; don’t share towels and other personal items; clean any skin wounds, even the smallest and most superficial ones immediately and thoroughly; see a physician promptly if a wound appears infected (pus formation, increasing redness). Remember that the very young and the very old are at high risk of some infections, especially Salmonella, which is transmitted through food.

            The human immune system is complex and highly developed. We can boost that immunity with a healthy diet and regular exercise, always a good prescription for resistance to disease.