We have two intriguing stories today which suggest a worrying trend in antibiotic resistance, It’s upward, and both suggest scenarios which may be difficult to control.
The first, by the indefatigable Nicola Davis of the Guardian,[1]suggests that urban birds, such as gulls, crows and so on may be harbouring pools of deeply resistant bacteria, particularly of the Campylobacter variety. Now, we confess that these are two of our favourite species. We love the soaring and swooping flights of our local herring gulls, and marvel at the tough resourceful intelligence of the Corvidae family. But unfortunately these creatures are forced to live in contact with our waste sites and outfalls as the only way to make a living. Which brings them into contact with things like farm waste, which as attentive readers of this blog will recall, is stuffed with antibiotics and the bacteria which have become resistant to them. Why are we worried? Well, birds fly around a lot, don’t they? Especially into things like chicken runs, goose farms and the like. The risk that the resistant strains may not only spread, but enter our food chains, becomes correspondingly high. One to watch, we think.
We’ve mentioned our fears about STDs and antibiotic resistance before on this site. Unfortunately, these qualms seem justified, according to Andrew Rogers of the BBC. [2]The UK Health Security Agency, a pretty reputable bunch, report a rise in cases of gonorrhoea which seem to be resistant to that otherwise excellent antibiotic ceftriaxone, which up to now has been the go-to drug of choice for this ailment. And why the worry? Well, people can’t seem to stop doing it, wherever, whenever, however. Such regrettable behaviour has certainly contributed to the recent upswing in Mpox.[3]And the more worldly-wise among our readers will recall how many other pandemics have spread through what might be politely termed, er, close physical contact.
We don’t wish to plunge you too far into disquiet, gentle readers. Certain lines of feedback suggest we may go a little far in that direction, sometimes. But these are stories that suggest a worrying trend, certainly. Ironic if they turned out to be more important in the long run than the problems which seem to concern our current leaders, and many of their followers.
[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceq5j784n7go
[3]https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0e84jw9qdjo
#antibiotic resistance #health #birds ##gonorrhoea #UKHSA #medicine
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