Conference Interview #6 of 12
Sarah Anwar, MDLinx
Iselin, New Jersey, United States | November 13-14, 2017
According to Dr. Weiss, resistance was previously isolated to certain geographic areas based on antibiotic usage, but has since spread globally. Unfortunately, antimicrobial resistance has become a threat to modern medicine. As pathogens gain resistance to antibiotics, once-treatable infections may result in mortality, as in the pre-antibiotic age. Misuse and overuse of antibiotics are among the leading factors that drive resistance.
Dr. Weiss concluded his interview by sharing estimates from recent reports.
“By 2050 there’ll be 10 million people dying or more of bacterial infections,” he stressed.
This begs the question, is it beneficial for patients to continue taking antibiotics even after they have gotten better? Or, will this drive resistance?