Every year, millions of Americans battle antibiotic-resistant infections, and thousands die.
Resistant infections affect people from all walks of life— –young and old, healthy and chronically ill. These illnesses often start with something seemingly benign, like a simple cut or a routine medical procedure.
In the following videos, hear from people who know firsthand the consequences of antibiotic resistance and what they are doing to contribute to the fight against superbugs.
"I was part of the good outcome. There are far too many that are on the opposite end and lose their battle, their fight with their antibiotic-resistant infection," says Chris, whose life-threating infection stemmed from a basketball injury.
It's been more than 30 years since a new type of antibiotic has been made available to patients. Dr. Shannon Ross has experienced the consequences first-hand.
In this video, Joyce and Chris Romm share the story of their son, Carl. A slew of antibiotics, they explain, failed to treat his recurring illnesses after he came home from serving in the Army.
Nearly a century after Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin, bacteria continue to develop the ability to defeat antibiotics. Doctors worldwide are concerned about the spread of superbugs that are resistant to all antibiotics. Host Dan LeDuc visits Fleming’s London lab for some history and talks with Pew’s Allan Coukell about current efforts to reduce unnecessary use of these drugs and encourage development of new ones.
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Sara Miller
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Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, also known as “superbugs,” are a major threat to modern medicine. But how does resistance work, and what can we do to slow the spread? Read personal stories, expert accounts, and more for the answers to those questions in our four-week email series: Slowing Superbugs.
