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Harry Logan

Mr. Taylor

English II

24 May 2019

Superbug Diseases

“In the United States alone, antibiotic-resistant infections now sicken some two million

people each year”(Landhuis). Of these sick people, around 23,000 end up passing away from

these diseases (Landhuis). What makes these diseases so deadly is the fact that they have become

immune to antibiotics, making them incurable. Superbugs are spreading rapidly with no current

treatment, but the solution starts with using antibiotics correctly, which will slow infections and

prevent future ones. On top of that, there needs to be a push for newer and more effective

medicines because there is not a high demand, despite the alarming situation.

The problem is that superbugs are bacterial diseases that, due to overuse of antibiotics,

have evolved and are no longer affected by medicine (“How”). These diseases are not only

carried by humans, but also by livestock. These animals are over-prescribed with antibiotics,

which leads them to start building up resistant bacteria (“How”). The infected meat is then eaten

by humans and other animals, further spreading the infection (“How”). Fertilizer made by

infected animal feces is then used on crops, leaving resistant bacteria on the plants, which are

then eaten (“How”). Superbugs are a problem because of their antibiotic resistance and rapid rate

at which they spread. Everybody that is exposed to these diseases are at risk of contracting one.

This is a serious issue because superbugs are dangerous and are becoming a more serious

threat to people because of their nature. Antibiotics are becoming more unreliable, which will

greatly affect the reliability of surgical procedures that rely on them (Landhuis). Simple bacteria
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that were once treatable by a trip to the doctor’s office now often require hospitalization, and

have little to no chance of being properly treated. Now superbugs are interfering with basic

surgerys. Because of the way superbugs now interfere with surgical procedures, they are

becoming a serious threat.

The solution for superbugs begins with correctly using antibiotics so the bacteria can not

evolve, and then pushing for a new medicine to help fight superbugs, for there is no serious

research being done for a cure. If antibiotics were prescribed and taken correctly, there would be

less infections and slow the rate of new superbugs. New medicine could severely slow the rate of

superbug infections, and possibly cure infected patients. Despite this hopeful outcome, it will be

very expensive to research and develop new medicine, around $20 billion yearly (Emanuel).

During the time it takes to develop, there will be more infections and deaths from superbugs.

However, if a new antibiotic is presented, then it will provide a reliable treatment for millions of

people on their deathbed.

In conclusion, while currently untreatable, a push for new medicine can cure these

antibiotic resistant diseases. Doing so will save millions of lives around the world and prevent

future infections. Curing superbugs will be a expensive and tedious path, but it will benefit future

generations.

Works Cited
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“Antimicrobial Resistance.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 16 May

2019, www.whoint/news-room/fact-sheets/detial/antimicrobial-resistance

Emanuel, Ezekiel J. “How to Develop New Antibiotics.” The New York Times, The New York

Times, 24 Feb. 2015,

www.nytimes.com/2015/02/24/opinion/how-to-develop-new-antibiotics.html

“How Antibiotic Resistance Spreads.”BioMerieux - My Role Matters in the FIght Against

Antimicrobial Resistance, BioMerieux, 16 May 2019, www.myrolematters.com

Landhuis, Esther, “Superbugs: A Silent Health Emergency.” Science News for Students, 4 April

2017, www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/superbugs-silent-health-emergency