4 ms·

we need a new "manhattan" project to tackle the problem of bacterial resistance. Seriously we should be investing hundreds of billions of dollars into research

we need a new "manhattan" project to tackle the problem of bacterial resistance. Seriously we should be investing hundreds of billions of dollars into research into more effective means of controlling infectious diseases. We're on the brink of reverting to the times before antibiotics where common infections that are now easily treatable will be deadly and debilitating again. It's terrifying.

chiefalchemist 8y ago
But sadly, this is not new news. Unfortunately, it's not sexy in a political and/or mainstream media sense. No one seems interested in owning the problem. Perhaps, again sadly, the only hope is this becoming a national security issue and the DoD throwing its budget weight at it. But if obesity is any indication, that's not going to be enough.
refurb 8y ago
It’s concerning, but shouldn’t be terrifying (although the media prefers it to be). Even with highly resistant strains, current antibiotics works in nearly all cases. Physicians are quite careful about reserving the “big guns” for last. In addition, anti-resistance techniques have been effective with some resistant strains actually decreasing in prevalence over the past few years. Do we need to keep researching new antibiotics? Of course. Is it doomsday? No.
- goostavos 8y ago
  Links to whatever you're reading that gives you that confidence/understanding? The media has me pretty convinced that we're on the brink of a modern medicine failure
  - refurb 8y ago
    Good place to start: https://resistancemap.cddep.org/AntibioticResistance.php https://resistancemap.cddep.org/AntibioticResistance.php Three out of the six tracked antibiotic have decreasing resistance rates (aminopenicillins, amoxicillin, piperacillin). The last two are front-line antibiotics that have been around for decades. They still work for most infections. It's not evident from these graphs, but prior predictions were rates were going to drastically increase over the past decade. That hasn't born out. Not saying this isn't a public health concern, but it's also not antibiotic armageddon.
    - philjohn 8y ago
      If anything, the Armageddon scenarios that the media like to play out (which are utterly terrifying - an end to routine surgery, cutting yourself gardening potentially being fatal etc.) could have caused a shift in the "I'm ill, give me antibiotics", so in that way, has been just as useful as other controls put in place.
  - goldfeld 8y ago
    Big money generally wants to instill fear in you to sell you peace of mind, so..
nikanj 8y ago
Antibiotic resistance is a major threat, but this one was talking about resistance to cleaning products such as alcohol. Developing a resistance to them is like developing a resistance against being burned alive. A thicker skin might help you somewhat with mild concentrations, but at the end of the day, basic biology says you can't build alcohol-proof bacteria.

chiefalchemist 8y ago

But sadly, this is not new news. Unfortunately, it's not sexy in a political and/or mainstream media sense. No one seems interested in owning the problem. Perhaps, again sadly, the only hope is this becoming a national security issue and the DoD throwing its budget weight at it. But if obesity is any indication, that's not going to be enough.

refurb 8y ago

It’s concerning, but shouldn’t be terrifying (although the media prefers it to be). Even with highly resistant strains, current antibiotics works in nearly all cases. Physicians are quite careful about reserving the “big guns” for last. In addition, anti-resistance techniques have been effective with some resistant strains actually decreasing in prevalence over the past few years. Do we need to keep researching new antibiotics? Of course. Is it doomsday? No.

goostavos 8y ago
Links to whatever you're reading that gives you that confidence/understanding? The media has me pretty convinced that we're on the brink of a modern medicine failure
- refurb 8y ago
  Good place to start: https://resistancemap.cddep.org/AntibioticResistance.php https://resistancemap.cddep.org/AntibioticResistance.php Three out of the six tracked antibiotic have decreasing resistance rates (aminopenicillins, amoxicillin, piperacillin). The last two are front-line antibiotics that have been around for decades. They still work for most infections. It's not evident from these graphs, but prior predictions were rates were going to drastically increase over the past decade. That hasn't born out. Not saying this isn't a public health concern, but it's also not antibiotic armageddon.
  - philjohn 8y ago
    If anything, the Armageddon scenarios that the media like to play out (which are utterly terrifying - an end to routine surgery, cutting yourself gardening potentially being fatal etc.) could have caused a shift in the "I'm ill, give me antibiotics", so in that way, has been just as useful as other controls put in place.
- goldfeld 8y ago
  Big money generally wants to instill fear in you to sell you peace of mind, so..

nikanj 8y ago

Antibiotic resistance is a major threat, but this one was talking about resistance to cleaning products such as alcohol. Developing a resistance to them is like developing a resistance against being burned alive. A thicker skin might help you somewhat with mild concentrations, but at the end of the day, basic biology says you can't build alcohol-proof bacteria.