The Global Story Antibiotics: A casualty of war?
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Feb 13, 2025 Dominic Hughes, BBC's Global Health correspondent, shares insights on the chilling link between war and antibiotic resistance. He discusses how conflicts, particularly the situation in Ukraine, are exacerbating the emergence of superbugs, rendering treatments less effective. Hughes highlights the historical role of antibiotics in wartime and how current military conflicts endanger the progress made in modern medicine. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for a coordinated global response to the growing antimicrobial resistance crisis.
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Pre-Antimicrobial Era
- Before antimicrobials, even minor infections could be fatal, and treatments were rudimentary.
- Childbirth and surgery were perilous, and battlefield injuries often led to deadly infections.
Antimicrobials vs. Antibiotics
- Antimicrobials combat microorganisms, encompassing disinfectants, antiseptics, and antibiotics.
- Antibiotics are a specific type of antimicrobial that targets bacteria within the body.
Fleming's Discovery
- Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin in 1928 revolutionized medicine.
- He observed how mold inhibited bacterial growth, leading to the development of the first antibiotic.