Antibiotics may be useless in a decade: The Scotsman

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the potential crisis of antibiotic resistance, exploring concerns about over-prescription, the impact of agricultural practices, and the future of antibiotic development. Participants share personal observations, historical context, and speculative ideas regarding solutions and the timeline of resistance development.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Prof. Hugh McGavock warns that antibiotic over-prescription could lead to a crisis where thousands die from treatable illnesses.
  • One participant notes high antibiotic prescription rates in Quebec, suggesting that doctors may prescribe antibiotics to reassure patients even when they are not necessary.
  • Concerns are raised about the link between antibiotic resistance and agricultural practices, with references to bans in some European countries on antibiotic use in farm animals.
  • Research into insect antimicrobial compounds is mentioned as a potential avenue for developing new antibiotics.
  • A participant recalls a statement from the CDC about the end of the antibiotic era, indicating a sense of urgency regarding the issue.
  • There is speculation about the potential for genetic engineering to provide solutions to antibiotic resistance before current antibiotics become ineffective.
  • Questions are posed about how long it would take for bacteria to lose resistance genes if antibiotics were removed from use, suggesting that bacteria may shed unnecessary genes relatively quickly.
  • A metaphor comparing the management of bacterial resistance to crop rotation is introduced, proposing that rotating antibiotics could help mitigate resistance.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of concerns about antibiotic resistance, with no clear consensus on solutions or timelines. Multiple competing views and hypotheses are presented, indicating ongoing uncertainty and debate.

Contextual Notes

Some claims rely on specific assumptions about medical practices and bacterial behavior, and there are unresolved questions regarding the effectiveness of proposed solutions and the timeline for resistance development.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying microbiology, public health, pharmaceutical development, and agricultural practices related to antibiotic use.

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ANTIBIOTICS could be rendered useless in little over a decade because over-prescription is leading to increased resistance from disease, a leading expert has warned.

Prof Hugh McGavock, a specialist in prescribing science, has claimed that an antibiotic crisis could lead to thousands of people dying from previously treatable illnesses by 2015.

http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/index.cfm?id=1077142003
 
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I am so surprise:wink:. Doctor in the province of Quebec (where I live) prescribe the most antibiotic per capita in north america. One of my friend got prescribed antibiotic after the doctor toll her she migth viral infection. My friend toll the Doctor she was studying microbiology and that she knew antibiotic can kill virus, and the doctor answer that it was in case. I think doctor prescribes antibiotic to reasure patients.

We also learn that antibiotic resistance was also link to the use of antibiotic in farming. Research have been done since the early 1980 which is when the salmonella antibiotic resistant strain appeared. Some european country have actually band the use of antibiotic for human on farm animal. It's been show that it may help reduce resistance at least in the human intestinal track.

On another notes, there actually research being done with insects. Insects immune system produce an array of antimicrobial coumpounds. Pharmaceutical company are working desperatly to create these new antibiotics.

And for an ironic comment, Alexander Flemming (He discovered penicillin) had actually predicted the rise of antibiotic resistance.
 
Originally posted by iansmith
I am so surprise:wink:. Doctor in the province of Quebec (where I live) prescribe the most antibiotic per capita in north america. One of my friend got prescribed antibiotic after the doctor toll her she migth viral infection. My friend toll the Doctor she was studying microbiology and that she knew antibiotic can kill virus, and the doctor answer that it was in case. I think doctor prescribes antibiotic to reasure patients.

We also learn that antibiotic resistance was also link to the use of antibiotic in farming. Research have been done since the early 1980 which is when the salmonella antibiotic resistant strain appeared. Some european country have actually band the use of antibiotic for human on farm animal. It's been show that it may help reduce resistance at least in the human intestinal track.

On another notes, there actually research being done with insects. Insects immune system produce an array of antimicrobial coumpounds. Pharmaceutical company are working desperatly to create these new antibiotics.

And for an ironic comment, Alexander Flemming (He discovered penicillin) had actually predicted the rise of antibiotic resistance.

I remember listening to the head of the CDC declare an end to the antibiotic era. Here is a related link with some interesting info.

http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/index.htm
 
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Prof Hugh McGavock, a specialist in prescribing science, has claimed that an antibiotic crisis could lead to thousands of people dying from previously treatable illnesses by 2015.
I've heard the stories about the antiviotic crisis. Maybe something else will be developed (DDT, anyone?). Thank goodness I'll be outta here well before the tish hits the fan.
 
Its a real problem that for now biotech firms are staying ahead of. Hopefully genetic engineering will find a way out before our super-antibiotics start falling behind.
 
Originally posted by russ_watters
Its a real problem that for now biotech firms are staying ahead of. Hopefully genetic engineering will find a way out before our super-antibiotics start falling behind.

Are these already in use? Testing? I have been waiting for these to hit. The last time that I checked [in many cases] vancomycin was still the last line of defense.
 
I wonder, how long would it take for a bacterium to loose the restistance gene to an antibiotic if that antibiotic was completely taken off the market?

Would, say, after 10 years the gene be completely lost? Since bacteria ARE very selective of their gene load, they get rid of the things they don't need relatively quick.

The same principle of how a farmer manages his land, he rotates his crops year by year so that pests are prevented from settling in the soil.

Rotate antibiotics to get rid of resistance.
 

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