Making Sense with Sam Harris #166 — The Plague Years
Aug 21, 2019
Matt McCarthy, an infectious disease doctor and author of "Superbugs: The Race to Stop an Epidemic," dives deep into the critical threat of drug-resistant bacteria and superbugs. He shares alarming insights about the failure of the pharmaceutical industry to adapt to evolving pathogens. The discussion highlights the ethical dilemmas in antibiotic usage, the complacency following the success of early antibiotics, and the urgent need for innovative solutions. McCarthy emphasizes the global health implications while advocating for a transformative approach in antibiotic research and practices.
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Path to Infectious Disease
- Matt McCarthy became interested in infectious diseases after hearing Paul Farmer speak.
- Six months later, he was in West Africa, hunting for the Ebola virus.
The Golden Age of Antibiotics
- The advent of penicillin ushered in a golden age of disease treatment.
- This success led to a shift in focus away from infectious diseases.
The Inevitable Arms Race
- Antibiotic resistance is a predictable outcome of evolution.
- Some "superbugs" exist in the environment, unencountered by humans and our drugs.
