The evolutionary history of antibiotic resistance suggests it may be impossible to develop resistance-proof antibiotics so what are our other options?
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Articles on Antibiotic resistance
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While some ancient therapies proved effective enough that they are still used in some form today, on the whole they just aren’t as good as modern antimicrobials at treating infections.
Doctors often tell patients to take a “course” of antibiotics, because a partially treated infection may result in relapse with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. But where this advice come from?
Bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics and we are approaching a time when there could be many bacteria resistant to all the antibiotics we have. So how do we stop over-using them?
Researchers in China have found strains of E.coli that are resistant colistin, the antibiotic of last resort.
Antibiotics are used extensively in Africa because of the continent’s high disease burden. This also means that resistance is high. Steps are being taken to raise awareness and encourage prudent use.
Bacteria become problematic when an infection occurs and antibiotics that would have treated the infection are no longer effective.
Antibiotics can prevent serious harm and stop infections becoming fatal. But they won’t kill common cold and flu viruses, and careless overprescribing by doctors can do more harm than good.
Two of the most common antibiotic-resistant bacteria circulating in hospitals can be wiped out by transplanting faeces from a healthy animal into the gut of an infected one, a study on mice has found.
We used to think that antibiotic resistance came at a cost for bacteria, making them weaker. It turns out that for some bacteria, resistance can make them stronger and more virulent.
Antibiotic resistance is pressing issue in medicine but the extensive use of antibiotics in farming is part of the problem.
Bacteria qualify as “superbugs” when there are no or few remaining effective antibiotics to kill them.
Superbugs are back in the news – and everybody loves a good germ panic story.
Biofilms have developed to let nutrients in but keep antimicrobials out.
Proposals for a new way to fund antibiotic research and development are just one piece of the puzzle in the fight against drug-resistance.
New research shows the best way to treat hospital infections caused by C. difficile may be with more of the bacteria.
A naturally-occurring system discovered in bacteria holds promise as a way to fight pathogens – very specifically and without the risk of antibiotic resistance.
Joint replacement surgery comes with a big risk of infection. New implant technology that can release silver ions inside the body could help – and without increasing antibiotic resistance.
We are only beginning to recognise the growing problem of antibiotics polluting our environment, and the serious repercussions it has for health.
When retail health clinics move into new areas, antibiotic prescription rates go up.
Top contributors
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Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, Aston University
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Professor, The University of Queensland
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Dean of the College of Science, Professor of Biochemistry, Rochester Institute of Technology
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Professor of Biocchemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University
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Senior Research Fellow, School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia
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Research Fellow in Microbiology, University of Glasgow
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Visiting Research Fellow, History of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cambridge
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Director Of Medicine, The Maitland and Kurri Kurri Hospital, University of Newcastle
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Professor of Public Health, Bond University
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Senior Lecturer, Medical Microbiology, University of Westminster
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Professor of Infectious Diseases, Monash University
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Professor, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
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Associate Director of Microbiology, University of California, San Diego
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Professor of Ecosystems Engineering, Newcastle University
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Clinical Lecturer and GP, University of Oxford
