Revenge of the Microbes How Bacterial Resistance is Undermining the Antibiotic Miracle

About this book

Two decades after the first edition of Revenge of the Microbes: How Bacterial Resistance Is Undermining the Antibiotic Miracle warned of the looming threat of antibiotic resistance, it is now upon us. Not only has the spread of antibiotic resistance continued unabated, but the emergence of multidrug-resistant "superbugs" is poised to set medical progress back centuries. Several distinct biological, social, economic, and technological factors have resulted in us only barely keeping pace with these new threats.

In this edition of Revenge of the Microbes, the authors detail the intricacies of the antibiotic-microbe arms race. Beginning with a historical perspective on antibiotics and their profound impact on both modern medicine and present-day society, they review our current arsenal against infectious diseases and the various ways pathogens evade or overcome them. The authors examine the practices and policies driving the discovery and development of new antibiotics, what happens to antibiotics once they are released into the environment, how antibiotic-resistant bacteria evolve and spread, and the urgency for finding alternative approaches to combating infections. This discussion of the controversies surrounding antibiotics will empower readers – citizen scientists, policymakers, pharmaceutical researchers, and medical professionals alike – to generate informed opinions on antibiotic usage and stewardship as we contend with fewer effective antibiotics.

Reader-friendly and comprehensible, this new edition of Revenge of the Microbes engages a diverse audience of scientists, clinicians, educators, students, lawyers, environmentalists, and public health advocates as it explores the ever-changing landscape of the antibiotic resistance crisis.

Contents

Foreword by Stanley Maloy   ix
Preface   xiii
About the Authors   xv

Chapter 1. Antibiotics: What Are They?   1
Chapter 2. The “Miracle” in “Miracle Drugs”   11
Chapter 3. Bacterial Resistance Threatens the Mighty Reign of Antibiotics   27
Chapter 4. A Brief Look at the History of Antibiotics   41
Chapter 5. Bacterial Targets of Antibiotics: How Antibiotics Work   49
Chapter 6. Bacteria Reveal Their Adaptability and Gain Resistance   71
Chapter 7. The Spread of Antibiotic Resistance   85
Chapter 8. The Escalating Crisis in Antibiotic Availability Amidst Renewed Efforts   107
Chapter 9. The Battle Continues To Combat Antibiotic Resistance: Alternative Approaches   127
Chapter 10. Building a Viable Framework for Tackling the Escalating Antibiotic Resistance Crisis   139

Index   153

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