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Rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria — Science News, August 24, 1974
Antibiotics have saved millions of people from life-threatening bacterial infections. But these “miracle” drugs have a serious drawback: Bacteria can build resistance to them. Resistant strains … have multiplied to the point where they may cause 50,000 to 100,000 deaths a year in American hospitals.… [The pathogens] are also becoming a health danger outside the hospital.
Update
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are now a leading cause of death worldwide. In 2019, the pathogens directly killed over 1 million people and played a role in nearly 5 million deaths (SN: 1/24/22). As antibiotics lose their potency due to misuse and overuse, scientists are searching for new and diverse strategies to combat bacteria (SN: 5/28/19). Those strategies include using ointments that render bacteria vulnerable to antibiotics and co-opting bacterial jumping genes to kill or weaken pathogens. Scientists also are studying how “last resort” antibiotics work, which could guide efforts to modify them as bacteria build up resistance.
