A “CRITICAL SITUATION”
by Contributor
(Jun. 3, 2019) — The United Nations has warned that by 2050, 10 million people could die each year if no action is taken to control drug-resistant diseases. The increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics has been called a global crisis and, in addition to millions of deaths, could cause enormous economic damage and force millions of people around the world into extreme poverty. Penicillin and other antibiotics that have revolutionized healthcare since the early 1900s are becoming increasingly ineffective. Already, during this year alone, at least 23,000 people in America, and ten times as many around the world, will die from these infections. Our heavy dependence on antibiotics, and the increase in strains of bacteria that are resistant to them, means that the situation has become critical. Scientists are working hard to keep up with constant changes in resistant bacteria, and there is some hope that their development of antimicrobial compounds will be a match for constantly evolving bacteria.
Killing Resistant Superbugs
One such compound has recently been used to successfully kill antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria, including E.coli. It is the first new treatment of gram-negative bacteria in 50 years. These bacteria are responsible for a variety of common ailments, such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections. However, because the bacteria’s cell walls are impenetrable to drugs, they are difficult to cure. The World Health Organisation has recently stated that new treatments for gram-negative bacteria should be listed as ‘Priority 1 critical’. This is because of the high death rate from the infections they cause, and the fact that these infections are so easily spread in hospitals. This could have an impact on health and life insurance policies. Leading providers like National Guardian Life Insurance note the need to monitor epidemiological and biological developments over the next few years. Previously mild or benign conditions will need to be re-evaluated, as they may no longer be easily cured with the use of antibiotics.
Understanding The Mechanics Of Bacteria
Scientists have taken yet another step forward in understanding how bacteria repel antibiotics. Bacteria that should be wiped out by antibiotics are able instead to lie dormant until they are helped by plasmids, small fragments of DNA. The plasmids contain instructions for repelling specific antibiotics which the bacteria share while they are mixing together in the gut. A greater understanding of these basic cell functions means new treatments that attack the particular elements enabling resistance to spread can be created.
Controlling The Spread Of Resistant Bacteria
This year, at least two million Americans will develop an infection that is resistant to antibiotics. In addition to a greater understanding of cell mechanics, simply recording the occurrences of antibiotic-resistant bacteria could help to control their spread within hospitals and between different healthcare facilities. By creating a registry of patients carrying antibiotic-resistant bacteria, extra precautions could be taken during hospital admissions and transfers. With such widespread overuse of antibiotics, any practical tool that can aid damage limitation is beneficial.
Cleaning Environmental Contamination
The impact of the widespread use of antibiotics is far-reaching, causing risks to health and the environment. Scientists at York University have recently completed a study that has revealed the presence of antibiotics in 65% of rivers in the 72 countries around the world. In Bangladesh, the drug metronidazole, commonly used to treat skin infections, was found in concentrations 300 times over safe levels. It is believed that these high levels of contamination have most likely contributed to global antimicrobial resistance. Cleaning up contaminated sites will involve considerable investment in waterways infrastructure, and stricter regulations over the treatment of wastewater.
Losing the race against antibiotic-resistant bacteria could mean millions of deaths each year in the near future. Through the discovery of antimicrobial compounds, a greater understanding of cell mechanisms, and close monitoring of the environment, the negative consequences of health care without effective antibiotics could be mitigated or cancelled out altogether.