The consequence of our history of antibiotic over-use and misuse.

We’ve given bacteria powerful reasons for resistance building to suppress their action, to minimize their potentially harmful effects on us. Microbes have become resistant to multiple drugs. Resistance building by one organism strengthens resistance building by related organisms, making it more difficult to neutralize the unwanted action on us by not just one but by whole bacteria-clusters. Decades of seemingly careless use of antibiotics in primary treatment, as growth promoters in livestock-production and improve feed efficiency in contemporary intensive animal farming is having its price….

This book expresses concern over the dwindling numbers of effective antibiotics and the fact that few new drugs are in development. It also suggests a shift in strategy for the design of new generations of antibiotics.

While antibiotics can certainly still be lifesaving, we are becoming more aware of the risks they pose. More and more study results arm us with information that may help the medical community push toward shorter antibiotic treatment courses and minimizing the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics