You hear a lot about bacterial resistance, and I just wondered if any medical types had some insight into how long we as a species can count on effective antibiotics. Will they eventually just stop working, or will scientists always be able to stay one step ahead?
You seem to think that we currently have the ability to stay one step ahead, and that you’re wondering how long that might last.
That’s not the impression I have at all. There already are several “superbugs” out there for which no known antibiotic is effective. See more in Wikipedia here.
Is this evidence of us falling behind, relative to how things used to be? I don’t think we have ever possessed antibiotics effective against every single bacterium that exists.
Wow, thanks Keeve. That’s quite an eye-opener.
Glad to help!
THE STRAIGHT DOPE
Fighting Ignorance Since 1973
it’s taking too damn long!