Rise of Antibiotic Resistance Means 'We are all to blame'

One of the biggest stories in the media brewing at this present time is the consequences of further antibiotic resistance to our current and best antibiotics. Perhaps UK Prime Minister David Cameron is a tad too late to say that this could mean an eventual turn to the "Dark Ages" with our current progress with developing new antibiotic drugs.

Mr Cameron has stated that 'governments and drug companies [need to] work together to "accelerate" the discovery of a new generation of antibiotics'. However, common knowledge of the drug trial system explains that these new drugs won't be available for prescription tomorrow - in fact some particularly gruelling clinical trials can take up to 15 years according to Cancer Research UK. With the alarming rate of increasing antibiotic resistance, perhaps the development of new solutions may not be able to keep pace with the continuing evolution of bacteria. These bacteria acquire 'antibiotic resistance genes' with new, random mutations to their genetic sequences.

Max Pemberton writes for The Daily Telegraph that discovering new antibiotics would be 'nothing more than a sticking plaster, concealing an underlying wound that we all need to accept exists'. Personally I fear he may be probably right, with increased application of antibiotics, there is an inevitable increase in the probability of antibacterial resistance due to mutation.

Although at present we 'render [antibiotics] useless', it seems that it is our only solution to the evolutionary suberbugs. In evolutionary terms, microorganisms such as bacteria can be considered the most successful organisms ever to have inhabited this earth. Their numbers growing incomprehensibly larger.

It is a frightening prospect to know that our seemingly useless drugs are being made to look an insignificant problem to microbes. It is absolutely imperative that scientific researchers all over the world work together to investigate new approaches to tackling this ever-pressing, escalating problem.

But what escalates antibiotic resistance? Pemberton makes a good point that partly it is due to human activity and more particular - our greed. Mass factory farming for example allows diseases to spread 'like wildfire' - this would require mass doses of antibiotic in turn. There has been evidence to suggest farmers treat even healthy livestock with antibiotics, this will fuel further the rise of antibiotic resistance. Measures like banning factory farming and limiting the use of antibiotics on animals could contribute to a long-term solution. But it would be no easy task I guarentee. I am sure many people would appreciate a rise in price of meat if it means combating the problem we face.


This pressing issue has brought about recent changes in the primary care system of the UK for example. Doctors (GP's) have been told to 'make patients wait five days for antibiotics', according to Christopher Hope, Senior Political Correspondent of The Daily Telegraph. This suggestion has been made in an attempt to 'wean people off a reliance on the drugs'. This step is one in a series of others aiming to reduce the need to give people antibiotics inappropriately.

GP's are often pressurised into prescribing antibiotics, some patients insisting that is what will treat their problem. Sore throats are an example: the measures would cut the need to prescribe antibiotics for sore throats 'from 90% to 40%'.

However prescribing the antibiotics in the first place isn't the only issue - how do we monitor the patients taking the drugs after prescription? As a general rule, it is essential for patients to complete a course of antibiotics. Secondary responses of diseases such as with Tuberculosis are possible.

Andrew Miller MP, chairman of the committee for MP's, said it had heard of 'GP's prescribing antibiotics simply as "dummy" placebos', in the attempt to satisfy patients.

In fact according to the article, since 2000 'only five new classes of antibiotic had been discovered and most were ineffective'. Ineffective against Gram-negative bacteria that is. These are bacteria that do not stain using the Gram staining method.

I am keen to see how the UK government will deal with this issue in the near future...

Credit to Max Pemberton and Christopher Hope (Senior Political Correspondent) for their articles in The Daily Telegraph (UK) published on Monday 7th July 2014.