Overuse of Antibiotics May Lead to Creation of Superbugs

Scott Smith

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New strains of superbugs have proven resistant to those exposed to common macrolide antibiotics used to treat respiratory infections. Professor Herman Goossens of University Hospital in Antwerp Belgium showed ingestion of even a single course of this specific antibiotic can lead to a buildup in resistance resulting in mutations for superbugs resulting in personal injury or death.

Scientists who conducted the study reported the findings in The Lancet Medical Journal after testing more than 200 healthy volunteers. The scientists took several samples of bacteria from the volunteers before and up to six months after giving them antibiotics. The levels of resistant bacteria rose following the drug treatment. This mounting evidence has caused concern in the medical community for the use of macrolide antibiotics utilized in respiratory illnesses as the new strains of infection have grown resistant to even the most powerful antibiotics.