When_Antibiotics_Stop_Working_Paper

When Antibiotics Stop Working University of Phoenix Abstract The purpose of this paper is to analyze why diseases that we have tried to eradicate for such a long time have now been strengthening and becoming immune to the medication that was designed to eradicate them. We need to understand what is causing this change by analyzing our behaviors as humans and analyzing the implications of our decisions. It makes sense that to combat these bacteria, we need to understand how they work and how they gain immunity. Finally, we need to resolve and come to a conclusion about what we need to do to insure that future generations do not suffer on behalf of our repeated mistakes. In order to insure the survival of the human race and prevent mass deaths due to disease like the plague, it is imperative that we ask these questions since they will lead us to think about our future behavior and for the future of the human race. Keywords: tuberculosis, bacteria, antibiotics, resistance, diseases, Antibodies When Antibiotics Stop Working Although the invention of Penicillin by Alexander Fleming was hailed as a great milestone in medical history, he will probably be frightened to know that his discovery and the use of antibiotics is, ironically, strengthening the bacteria that we try so hard to weaken. However, the first step to countering this problem is to analyze why these bacteria are strengthening and how they are strengthening. Only then can we answer how we can reduce the strength of these diseases. Much of the problem stems from the fact that we are so reliant on antibiotics and because we use them unnecessarily; in example, surgeons use antibiotics while conducting surgeries to prevent infection. However, they can also create a clean, sterile environment and prevent disease in the operating room - similarly to how companies that produce microchips have a sterile and particle free environment to keep out dust. In addition, the harmful bacteria are most likely to mutate when they are in a "recovery" phase. To elaborate, the Tuberculosis Bacteria (Tubercles Bacillus) have now become a large threat because they have become immune to several antibiotics. This has happed because patients are given the Tuberculosis medication and are told strictly to take them for a certain period of time, often daily. However, once their symptoms are alleviated, they no longer feel the need to continue to take the medication and stop doing so. This stops the onslaught of antibiotics attacking the now vulnerable bacteria. However, even though we may feel as if we are completely cured, we may still have several weakened bacteria within us. These bacteria, when not being attacked by the antibiotics, have a recovery time and are able to mutate and develop resistance to the antibiotics. They, in turn, pass this resistance of to their offspring and the disease can make a rebound. When Antibiotics Stop Working The actual mutation which occurs within the bacteria is extremely interesting but frightening at the same time. Often, the mutations are simply spontaneous but at other times, bacteria may transfer a small segment of genetic code to another bacterium which contains DNA codes for destroying or resisting antibiotics. The transfer of these DNA codes, also known as plasmids, is not confined to their own species; as in, a bacterium of one type can transfer its plasmids to bacteria of another type. Often, this sharing of plasmids results in the receiving bacteria to return its own plasmids as a favor. To prevent the increased resistance of these bacteria, we need to insure several things. Firstly, several diseases that are prevalent in animals are being strengthened by the use of antibiotics on these animals. When humans eat meat or poultry products derived from these animals, they introduce these germs into their own bodies, often with disastrous results. Since hospitals CAN be cleaner, they should be made so as to slow down the spread of diseases in the long run. Ironically, hospitals, trying to help people, are causing future problems by using antibiotics while conducting surgeries. We also need to limit the spread of antibiotics; presently, they are easy to get a hold of as they are simply over the counter medications. By limiting the use of antibiotics, one can also recover from an illness without having to necessarily use such medicine - although it may take a longer time to recover. Finally, as said before, one must insure that they follow the directions of their doctor by taking all meds as promised for the prescribed amount of time. References When the antibiotics quit working… http://whyfiles.org/038badbugs/index.html