Antibiotic Discoveries and a Century of Creating Superbugs

Download or read book Antibiotic Discoveries and a Century of Creating Superbugs written by Doreen E. Szollosi and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. This book was released on 2023-03-28 with total page 285 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the pre-antibiotic era, the infections we currently see as relatively minor were sometimes deadly. This book discusses the rise (and sometimes fall) of “wonder drugs” designed to combat infections for which, at the time, there was no cure. However, history has shown us that, when antibiotics are overused, it can ultimately lead to either widespread discontinuation of the antibiotic or a drastic decrease in efficacy, leaving healthcare providers with few or no options for treatment. This book explores the discoveries of the major antibiotic drug classes, and highlights major bacterial strains which have become resistant and now represent difficult-to-treat infections. Barriers to new antibiotic development, as well as novel strategies for treating bacterial infections, are also explored.