Dr. John Cahill - Emerging Infectious Diseases

Dr. John Cahill, a member of the Empowered Health News Medical Board discusses some of the challenges we face with infectious diseases that are constantly emerging and changing. SARS is an example of a virus that until several years ago, we had never heard about. So the possibility of new viruses emerging is a very real threat. Another challenge we face is bacteria evolving and growing resistant to antibiotics. It's becoming a huge problem in the developed world where we take antibiotics for granted. Doctors are constantly prescribing antibiotics and patients routinely expect to receive them for any number of minor infections. This gross distribution of antibiotics has contributed to the formation of "superbugs" that are resistant to the antibiotics we typically use. The reality is that we don't have the technology or the resources to continue developing the drugs needed to fight off all these mutations and resistance strains that keep developing.

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[dgeramie1]

Most Doctors rely on giving antibiotics to patient, just because maybe infectious diseases also evolve itself.

[cialisgenericoital]

Very intresting interview, I liked

[cialisgenericoful]

Cool! We all really liked the record!

[Senantoo]

What Dr Cahill neglected to mention is the millions of tons of antibiotics pumped into healthy live stock every year. Of course GOD FORBID!!! we actually get in the way of big agri business.This is the most likely source of your antibiotic resistant bugs. Docs should absolutely be more selective about prescribing them but lets get some perspective.

[mostacioli1982]

I have been sick and just got over a round of antibiotics about a month ago and got sick again and was given amoxicillin 500 again and having to take them 3 times a day for 10 days. Why are doctors giving antibiotics so readily these days. The first round did not completely heal me and now I'm going through another round. I feel like crap. I don't know what to think anymore.