Question

Read the article Antibiotic-Resistant ‘Superbug’ Found at California Hospital.

• What causes the development of ‘superbugs’ such as this?
• How great of a threat do you believe this is to humanity?
• What, if anything, can be done to prevent or inhibit the development of such bacteria?

Answer 1

A superbug is referred to as microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi that are resistant and adapted to antibiotics. These may be resistant one or more antibiotics. An antibiotic that they are resistant to varies from drugs that fight a mild infection to antibiotic drugs that fights life threatening diseases. This resistance occurs when an overuse of antibiotic occurs. An organism is said to be resistant when it starts to grow in the presence of a particular concentration of antibiotic that was usually sufficient to kill that same organism. If it starts developing resistance to multiple drugs then it’s said to be a superbug. This resistance can also be a phenotypic one that doesn’t occur with a genetic mutation. Examples are Acinetobactor , and enterobacteria which are found to be resistant to carbapenem antibiotics, gonorrhea etc.

Superbugs are the biggest challenges in public health these days. An infection caused by these superbugs may need multiple doses of different drugs and stronger drugs to treat them. This is a great threat to humanity. If the resistance of these superbugs grows to a greater level of antibiotics it will be difficult to treat the infections using antibiotics. It may become pan-resistant i.e. resistant to all antibiotics there will be no treatment options. If these superbugs starts spreading that can even cause a situation in which even the normal routine surgeries like C-sections or transplants may cause severe infections that is difficult to be treated. People with less immunity and with chronic illnesses are more susceptible to these superbugs.

The best ways to avoid infections are:

-The hospitals and healthcare facilities should be sterilized regularly.

-Minimize infections by eating healthy , exercising regularly, sleep enough etc. This decreases the intake of antibiotics.

-Use antibiotics only is necessary.

-. Avoid taking antibiotics for viral infections like flu as it cannot be treated with those drugs. Taking antibiotic when not needed may help resistance to it.

-Washing the hands with soap and water particularly after interacting with someone who is sick.

-Do not sharing personal items.

-Do not eat raw food. Always heat it to a safe temperature.

-Strict laws need to be taken for using antibiotics in farming.