Antibiotics are one of the most significant medical advances of the last century. We rely on them to fight infection and disease, and they’re often the first line of defense in emergency rooms and doctors’ offices around the world. But what happens when they stop working? It sounds like a doomsday premise, but the warning signs are undeniable. A new documentary, Antibiotic Resistance, produced by Australia’s ABCTV Catalyst series, takes an inside look at the looming crisis.
The documentary lays out the elements of this dilemma in a concise, scientific and accessible way: Every minute of our lives we are exposed to countless tiny bacteria. The right balance supports healthy digestion and improves quality of life. However, when they run amuck, these bacteria can pose a serious threat to humans. The invention of antibiotics in the 1940s brought hope to a medical community desperate to reduce infection mortality, and it has proven to be one of the greatest inventions of modern medicine.
The bacteria fight back and win. Bacterial strains such as E. coli are increasingly adept at resisting our antibiotic treatments. The more we take, the greater this resistance. In some cases, the strains can reproduce and regrow within 20 minutes—too fast for medical science. This leads to an increased incidence of nosocomial infections, sepsis, illness and death. It affects how well our bodies process the bacterial content of the food we eat.
Ironically, our heavy reliance on antibiotics could mean the end of this miracle cure. As the filmmakers point out, the problem is particularly acute in Australia, which is believed to be the world’s largest user of antibiotics, with 30 million prescriptions filled each year. The medical community is looking inward and pushing for awareness and self-regulation to curb the overuse of antibiotics.
Antibiotic resistance has swept us across industries from healthcare to agriculture, and researchers are working feverishly to tackle this potential catastrophe. Will this evidence of ingenuity save the day? Only time will tell, the clock is ticking.
