^
A
A
A

Antibiotics pose a grave danger to humanity

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
 
Fact-checked
х

All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.

We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.

28 January 2013, 09:12

British scientists warn that humanity is facing a catastrophe comparable in significance to global warming. The problem with modern medicine is that the widespread use of antibiotics promotes the development of immunity in bacteria that cause diseases. Thus, bacteria are becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics used by doctors every day, and the drugs do not have the desired effect.

Pathogens of various diseases acquire immunity to antibiotics and can even produce their own antibodies. Scientists claim that bacterial resistance to antibiotics can become a real catastrophe that can lead to the rapid death of humanity. Famous English doctors believe that there is a real reason for panic, since with such a development of events, in 25 years it will be impossible to successfully perform a simple operation to amputate a limb. Known antibiotics will not be able to cope with the infection, and new drugs simply may not exist. The scale of the problem is so great precisely because simple operations that have become routine today will become unrealistic.

Antibiotics are one of the most significant medical discoveries of the 19th century. They are substances of natural or semi-artificial origin that can suppress the growth of mobile cells. In medicine, antibiotics began to be used as drugs after studies showed that they were able to slow the growth and limit the reproduction of bacteria harmful to humans.

Doctors believe that the main reason for the emergence of such a serious problem can only be too frequent and ineffective use of antibiotics. Doctors who prescribe antibiotics to their patients everywhere "grow" resistant infections themselves. A separate problem is that in many countries antibiotics are sold without a prescription and people, regardless of the disease and the necessary treatment, stuff themselves and their loved ones with drugs without any particular need. With incompetent treatment with antibiotics, there is a risk that in the future, bacteria, having entered the body, will become completely insensitive to the drug.

A striking example is that at the moment doctors can name only one antibiotic that can act on the bacillus of such a venereal disease as gonorrhea. Scientists assume that the next global example can be considered tuberculosis. The disease is quite common nowadays, but if events develop as they do, in the next few years there will be no known antibiotic that can cope with the disease.

Specialists from England are sure that modern medicine can prevent catastrophic developments only by taking serious measures. Firstly, uncontrolled sale of antibiotics should be prohibited, secondly, antibiotics should be used more rationally during simple treatment of patients, thirdly, Western laboratories have begun conducting research aimed at testing the sensitivity of bacteria and their susceptibility to various substances.

trusted-source[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ]

You are reporting a typo in the following text:
Simply click the "Send typo report" button to complete the report. You can also include a comment.