12.18: Putting It Together- Theory of Evolution
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- 44474
Let’s return to our discussion of evolving bacteria from the beginning of the chapter. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that based on current evidence, gonorrhea may soon be untreatable; there are no new treatments or vaccinations in development for this bacteria. Within the United States this remain the second most common sexually transmitted disease. Almost a third of the US cases are drug resistant. MRSA remains a growing problem in our healthcare system. Staph bacteria are the most common source of health-care related infections in the United States. Of MRSA infections, nearly 14% result in death.
Think about It
Based on this lesson you now understand that evolution is an inevitable process. Is there any hope of stopping antibiotic resistance from developing?
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[hidden-answer a=”880848″]Yes and no. The average person can take a number of steps to minimize selective pressures on parasites. Without these pressures, mutations are less likely to spread in the population.
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Is there anything you can do?
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- Take the full course of prescribed antibiotics
- Don’t save or share leftover antibiotics
- Don’t ask for antibiotics if your doctor does not recommend them
- Practice good hygiene and get recommended vaccinations
- Minimize your use of antibacterial products
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To learn more about the topic, you can visit the following websites:
- WHO—Antimicrobial Resistance
- CDC—Antibiotic Resistance Threats
- CDC—Mission Critical: Preventing Antibiotic Resistance
- FDA—Antibacterial Soap
Contributors and Attributions
- Authored by: Shelli Carter and Lumen Learning. Provided by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution