Antibiotic Resistance is Really Scary!

In this article from the FDA they talk about how there is a vicious cycle going on of antibiotic overuse.  And why did this happen?  Because we were really dumb in the 80's, and we thought we had kicked bacteria's butt.  And then, the super bugs emerged.

I think its really interesting to talk about "survival of the fittest" when it comes to these bacteria.  If you take only 9 days of antibiotics, instead of all ten, you kill the weakest bacteria first, then the stronger, but you stop at killing the strongest.  Then the bacteria mutate, and we're all in trouble.

Many of us have come to take antibiotics for granted. A child develops
strep throat or an ear infection, and soon a bottle of "pink medicine"
makes everything better. An adult suffers a sinus headache, and
antibiotic pills quickly control it. But infections can and do still
kill. Because of a complex combination of factors, serious infections
may be on the rise. While awaiting the next "wonder drug," we must
appreciate, and use correctly, the ones that we already have.

I think I am absolutely guilty of popping a few antibiotics at the first sign of infection, and then quitting my round before I am completely cured.  When you start to feel better, who feels like taking pills?

And then, to the reason we are doing the lab - which is that using antibacterial household cleaners and antiseptics that are extremely toxic leads to more resistance and mutations of bacteria.  There is a great article that talks about how the Antibacterial fad is going overboard.