Article: Chasing Apocalypse: Evolution on the side of the bugs (ET)
This article explains in details the chilling scenario of bacteria evolving to a level in which antibiotics would become ineffective. The world of a post antibiotic era is already upon us and it is being manifested in the form of superbugs like NDM 1; the different forms of drug resistant TBs (MDR, XDR and now alarmingly TDR) and a general ineffectiveness of antibiotics across the spectrum. It also describes the dangers of a pandemic in a post antibiotic era.
Now try and answer the following questions:
- What is a pandemic? What are the dangers of a pandemic for public health in a post antibiotic era? What should be the steps to be taken to mitigate this threat?
- Why is the incidence of antibiotic resistance increasing? Describe it in the context of India. What should be the policy action?
- What are broad spectrum and narrow spectrum antibiotics? What is their usage?
Points to Ponder:
- Read about different forms of drug resistant TBs. Why is that TB is a major killer in India? What should be the steps taken to mitigate this crisis?
- What is a superbug? How do they evolve to be practically invincible against antibiotics?
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