People I (Mostly) Admire 60. Cassandra Quave Thinks the Way Antibiotics Are Developed Might Kill Us
Jan 29, 2022
Cassandra Quave, an ethnobotanist from Emory University and author of "The Plant Hunter," dives into the looming crisis of antibiotic resistance, predicting 10 million deaths annually by mid-century. She argues for blending ancient healing methods with modern medicine to tackle this urgent challenge. The discussion explores the urgent need to preserve traditional practices while innovating new solutions. Quave also shares her personal journey of transforming insecurities into creativity, highlighting the power of collaboration in medicine and the importance of responsible consumer choices.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Antibiotic Resistance Threat
- Antibiotic-resistant infections cause roughly 700,000 annual deaths, projected to rise to 10 million by 2050.
- This rivals current annual cancer deaths, highlighting the severity of the crisis.
Antibiotic Development Stagnation
- New antibiotic development has stalled since the 1980s; most "new" antibiotics are modified existing ones.
- Overuse creates resistance; microbes adapt quickly to evolutionary pressure from drugs.
Reduce Agricultural Antibiotic Use
- Limit antibiotic use in agriculture and other non-essential areas.
- Monoculture farming practices amplify the risk by creating ideal conditions for resistance.
