Researchers at Uppsala University have discovered a new class of antibiotics with potent activity against multi-drug resistant bacteria, and have shown that it cures bloodstream infections in mice. The new antibiotic class is described in a study recently published in the journal PNAS. Antibiotic
A good step, but we need to do more to address overuse of antibiotics if we want to get off this treadmill, especially for cases not relevant to life-saving medical treatment.
That’s easy. Stop eating meat. The meat industry loves the stuff. It allows them to cram more animals in the same space by preventing them becoming sick and with the added bonus of gaining weight faster so faster profit.
That’s just part of the problem unfortunately. The other part is overprescription, don’t expect or demand to have antibiotics prescribed for every cold. And if you do get them prescribed: finish the course, instead of stopping when you think things are better and leaving a colony of (somewhat) resistant bugs alive, which now stand a much better chance of gaining dominance.
I’m already there! Not for ethical reasons in particular, but because of my environmental values.