“Almost Too late”: Fears of Global Superbug Crisis in Wake of Antibiotic Misuse

Overuse of antibiotics, particularly in the agriculture industry, and a lack of new drugs to combat evolving superbugs could contribute to a global health crisis. An essay in the Guardian reports that “a gene was discovered which makes infectious bacteria resistant to the last line of antibiotic defence, colistin (polymyxins). The resistance to the colistin antibiotic is considered to be a ‘major step’ towards completely untreatable infections and has been found in pigs and humans in England and Wales.” Increasing movement of people and livestock could spread resistant diseases. Activities taken for granted, including routine surgeries and travel, could be jeopardized by the diminished strength of antibiotics. The European Union has passed legislation limiting use of antibiotics in agriculture, but one analyst suggests the problems will continue until the public shapes market forces by demanding untreated meat. – YaleGlobal