• Question: Do you think antibiotic resistance is a long term problem and why?

    Asked by Tomato to Ben, Lizzie, Francis, Max, Sian on 6 Mar 2018.
    • Photo: Lizzie Wright

      Lizzie Wright answered on 6 Mar 2018:

      Definitely. Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest health threats of our generation and is a huge concern across the world. There are lots of efforts to prevent this, such as better educating doctors and patients about more economical use of antibiotics. Scientists are also finding new antibiotics which can overcome bacteria that are currently resistant to existing drugs.

      It is definitely something we should be investing time and money into researching and educating.

    • Photo: Sian Richardson

      Sian Richardson answered on 6 Mar 2018:

      From a manufacturing point of view it can take on average 12 years to bring a new product to market. Therefore if there was a major outbreak in which our current antibiotics were ineffective, it could take a long time for a new antibiotic to come on the market. Companies do have products at various stages of development, with new ones ready to release. Bacteria can evolve much quicker than drug companies can develop new drugs therefore the use of antibiotics needs to be controlled to reduce the risk of the bacteria becoming resistant

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