Bacteria that resist 'last antibiotic' found in UK • Hacker News Board

Re: Bacteria that resist 'last antibiotic' found in UK

#21

Post by Betelgeuse90 » Mon, Dec 21, 2015, 10:46 PM UTC

mschuster91 wrote: post #12

placeybordeaux wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This needs to be done on a global scale and we haven't even made progress on that in the US. How do we start?

Well the current problematic situation of animals is relatively well contained to the Western sphere (US, EU, maybe China). The Chinese already recognize the effects on nature, the EU too (and iirc they're already beginning to introduce measures), the biggest problem is and always will be the US because of the huge influence of the farming lobby on US politics (and even if that was not the case, then the grid-lock be…

South America is extremely problematic as well in that regard.

Re: Bacteria that resist 'last antibiotic' found in UK

#22

Post by giarc » Mon, Dec 21, 2015, 10:46 PM UTC

mod wrote: post #8

themartorana wrote: post #2

Officials say the threat to human health is low, but is under ongoing review. I feel better? Is my kid going to live in a post-apocalyptic world where a new Black Plague has wiped out 2/3 of the population because it is completely antibiotic resistant? Or will new solutions (maybe ones that attack at a molecular level) be available first? I'm not asking rhetorically, any input would be awesome.

From what I've read, the antibiotics can be phased out, and then later, phased back in. Because the competition is so high, the bacteria can't afford the energy/resources to continue resistance to antibiotics that aren't in use--they are out-competed. Therefore, currently ineffective antibiotics will become effective again in the future. That said, I did not read if this is being practiced already.

Infection control professional here.

This is being practiced, but not intentionally. Some drugs are just not used anymore because they have become somewhat ineffective against most organisms, so they are shelved due to the fact they are not economically wise to produce, not because we are saving them.

Re: Bacteria that resist 'last antibiotic' found in UK

#23

Post by giarc » Mon, Dec 21, 2015, 10:48 PM UTC

geertj wrote: post #10

I'm hoping new antibiotics like Teixobactin get to market quickly. That said multiple comments have been made here on HN on how there are no incentives for the pharmaceutical industry to bring a new antibiotic to market. It would likely be prescribed as a last effort antibiotic, with a very low volume.

Correct, antibiotic stewardship is basically holding back prescribing rights for last line drugs like linezolid, daptomycin etc, and rightfully so. If you're a drug company producing the newest drug, and you know that for anyone to use it they are going to need an pharmacy or ID consult to get it approved, you can view this as a barrier to adoption.

Re: Bacteria that resist 'last antibiotic' found in UK

#24

Post by fiatmoney » Mon, Dec 21, 2015, 10:49 PM UTC

mschuster91 wrote: post #5

How about the most obvious solution: Stop keeping (farm) animals in conditions that require mass antibiotic feedings for the animals to survive?!

People like to blame antibiotic resistance on farms, but human populations with high rates of infection and transmission who aren't good at taking the full course of (or any) drugs are a more immediate problem. Increasing rates of drug-resistant tuberculosis and STDs aren't due to farm animals.

Re: Bacteria that resist 'last antibiotic' found in UK

#25

Post by arethuza » Mon, Dec 21, 2015, 10:49 PM UTC

tptacek wrote: post #15

jMyles wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds cruel, but I think we need to call people out when they eat factory meat.

So, basically, shame low-income people?

Having had my son suffer from an antibiotic resistant eye infection, if its a choice between low cost meat and useful antibiotics I'll go for the latter every time.

It's not like anyone in Europe or the US is actually suffering from a lack of meat is it?

[He's fine - but we were terrified he might lose the sight in one eye for a while].

Re: Bacteria that resist 'last antibiotic' found in UK

#26

Post by em0ney » Mon, Dec 21, 2015, 10:51 PM UTC

mschuster91 wrote: post #5

How about the most obvious solution: Stop keeping (farm) animals in conditions that require mass antibiotic feedings for the animals to survive?!

Amen. Similar to climate change in the sense that the world's worst offenders need to be on-board to resolve the problem and as a result, all other countries will cop out by blaming and scapegoating those countries

Re: Bacteria that resist 'last antibiotic' found in UK

#27

Post by tptacek » Mon, Dec 21, 2015, 10:54 PM UTC

arethuza wrote: post #25

tptacek wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, basically, shame low-income people?

Having had my son suffer from an antibiotic resistant eye infection, if its a choice between low cost meat and useful antibiotics I'll go for the latter every time. It's not like anyone in Europe or the US is actually suffering from a lack of meat is it? [He's fine - but we were terrified he might lose the sight in one eye for a while].

I am not suggesting that antibiotics in meat are a good thing, but I am pointing out the reality that antibiotic-free meat is a luxury item.

Re: Bacteria that resist 'last antibiotic' found in UK

#28

Post by jMyles » Mon, Dec 21, 2015, 10:55 PM UTC

tptacek wrote: post #15

jMyles wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds cruel, but I think we need to call people out when they eat factory meat.

So, basically, shame low-income people?

Come on now. Don't make it about that.

If you can't afford real meat, then you can't afford meat.

Nobody says that people who can't afford a catalytic converter deserve an exemption allowing them to spew more carbon from their cars. This is the same dynamic, but far, far worse.

Re: Bacteria that resist 'last antibiotic' found in UK

#29

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Dec 21, 2015, 10:57 PM UTC

tptacek wrote: post #27

arethuza wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having had my son suffer from an antibiotic resistant eye infection, if its a choice between low cost meat and useful antibiotics I'll go for the latter every time. It's not like anyone in Europe or the US is actually suffering from a lack of meat is it? [He's fine - but we were terrified he might lose the sight in one eye for a while].

I am not suggesting that antibiotics in meat are a good thing, but I am pointing out the reality that antibiotic-free meat is a luxury item.

[deleted]

Re: Bacteria that resist 'last antibiotic' found in UK

#30

Post by tptacek » Mon, Dec 21, 2015, 10:59 PM UTC

jMyles wrote: post #28

tptacek wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, basically, shame low-income people?

Come on now. Don't make it about that. If you can't afford real meat, then you can't afford meat. Nobody says that people who can't afford a catalytic converter deserve an exemption allowing them to spew more carbon from their cars. This is the same dynamic, but far, far worse.

I see the isomorphism between catalytic converters and animal protein, but there's a pretty big difference between requiring people to pay more for cars and telling them they can't buy chicken at Aldi anymore.

I think shaming people for buying cheap meat is a terrible strategy that will backfire.

What needs to change are the regulations. When antibiotics are banned from the food supply, the market will discover other ways to regain the efficiencies.