The human species faces multiple threats. Many of them have a natural origin, but others take shape from our own actions and, of course, our lack of responsibility. A great example is the crisis that antibiotics are going through. The indiscriminate use and the acquired resistance by bacteria raise the possibility of a “super-infection” that, in the worst case, could kill millions of people before being controlled. This new video from Kurzgesagt explains it in great detail.
A recent study
A recent study published jointly by the University of Bristol and Imperial College London presents a worrying picture regarding antibiotics. Due to their incorrect and excessive use, in 50 percent of cases focused on urinary tract infections caused by E. coli in children, (and by extension amoxicillin) is no longer effective. Something similar happens with cotrimoxazole (33 percent), and trimethoprim (25 percent). The evaluation was based on a total of 77,000 samples from 26 different countries, confirming once again that antibiotic resistance is a global problem. How serious is the situation? Let's watch this new Kurzgesagt video to find out (it has Spanish subtitles):
The overuse of antibiotics
No one doubts it: the discovery of antibiotics is one of the most extraordinary facts in history, and they have helped save millions of lives. Personally, I have had more infections than I can count, and had I been in the Middle Ages I would have died half a dozen times (at least). As I write these lines, someone is under treatment with one or more antibiotics to fight an infection… but unfortunately, our responsibility leaves much to be desired. The enormous effectiveness of antibiotics led to more than abusive use, applying them even in situations where they have no relevance (common viral infections, for example). As if that were not enough, the food industry uses antibiotics to compensate for the poor conditions in which animals are found, and to respond to the demands of a relentless market.
The access gap
This creates the ideal combo for a bacterium to gain and distribute its immunity, giving way to the dreaded superbugs. Finally, the video reminds us of another critical aspect in the world of antibiotics: the “access gap”. In some countries, buying a box of antibiotics is almost impossible, while in others we only have to pay a couple of euros to get them. In fact, they are so common among people that some groups suggest selling them over the counter, when in reality the antibiotic should be seen as a “last resort” intended to assist the immune system in its work. Fortunately, we have not yet entered what could be called “antibiotic apocalypse”, and the odds are still in our favor, but the warnings are everywhere...
Kurzgesagt
