Rising Plague: The Global Threat from Deadly Bacteria and Our

Rising Plague: The Global Threat from Deadly Bacteria and Our Dwindling Arsenal to Fight Them

Antibiotic-resistant microbes infect more than 2 million Americans and kill over 100,000 each year. They spread rapidly, even in such seemingly harmless places as high school locker rooms, where they infect young athletes. Throughout the world, many more people are dying from these infections. Astoundingly, as antibiotic resistant infections are skyrocketing in incidenceâ€•creating a critical need for new antibioticsâ€•research and development of new antibiotics has ground to a screeching halt!In Rising Plague, Dr. Brad Spellbergâ€•an infectious diseases specialist and member of a national task force charged with attacking antibiotic resistant infectionsâ€•tells the story of this potentially grave public health crisis. The author shares true and very moving patient stories to emphasize the terrible frustration he and his colleagues have experienced while attempting to treat untreatable infections, not to mention the heart-break and tragedy that many of these patients' families had to endure. Dr. Spellberg corrects the nearly universal misperception that physician misuse of antibiotics and "dirty hospitals" are responsible for causing antibiotic-resistant infections. He explains the true causes of antibiotic resistance and of the virtual collapse of antibiotic research and development. Most important, he advocates ways to reverse this dire trend and instead bolster the production of desperately needed new and effective antibiotics. He also warns against complacency induced by the decades-old assumption that some miracle drug will always be available to ensure the continuation of our "antibiotic era." If we do nothing, we run the risk of inviting a bleak future when infectious diseases will once again reign supreme. Then many of the medical breakthroughs that we now take for grantedâ€•from routine surgery and organ transplants to intensive care and battlefield medicineâ€•might all be threatened. This crucial and timely book is lucidly written in terms that everyone can understand. It issues a call to action, explaining how, through a strong and concerted effort, we can all help prevent this nightmare scenario from happening. By following this courageous doctor's recommendations, we can assure that magic bullets will be there for our families and us in the future.
Country USA
Brand Prometheus
Manufacturer Prometheus
Binding Hardcover
ReleaseDate 2009-09-22
UnitCount 1
Format Illustrated
EANs 9781591027508

Country	USA
Brand	Prometheus
Manufacturer	Prometheus
Binding	Hardcover
ReleaseDate	2009-09-22
UnitCount	1
Format	Illustrated
EANs	9781591027508

Rising Plague: The Global Threat from Deadly Bacteria and Our Dwindling Arsenal to Fight Them

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