Exacerbating the biological threat is a severe market failure within the global pharmaceutical sector. Developing a novel antibiotic requires billions of dollars in research and development, paired with a high probability of clinical trial failure. Even when a pharmaceutical company successfully brings a breakthrough antibiotic to market, clinicians rightfully hoard it as a drug of last resort, using it sparingly to prevent bacteria from developing immediate resistance. Consequently, sales volumes for new antibiotics are inherently low. Compared to lucrative chronic-disease medications for hypertension or diabetes, which patients consume daily for decades, antibiotics offer an incredibly poor return on investment. As a direct result, almost all major pharmaceutical conglomerates have completely abandoned their antimicrobial research pipelines.
What can resistant infections lead to?
: The text highlights antibiotic use in livestock for growth/prevention, not just treating illness.
Bacteria develop the ability to defeat the drugs meant to destroy them. Exacerbating the biological threat is a severe market
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The IELTS Academic Reading passage titled " The Growing Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance
The "The Growing Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance" is a common IELTS Academic Reading passage that explores the rise of superbugs and the factors accelerating this crisis. What can resistant infections lead to
A major factor is the widespread use of antibiotics in livestock, where they are used not just for illness, but to promote growth.
Increased illness and death.
Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria develop the ability to survive and thrive despite the presence of antibiotics. This happens when bacteria are exposed to antibiotics, and those that are susceptible to the medication die, leaving behind resistant bacteria that multiply and spread. Over time, the resistant bacteria become dominant, making antibiotics ineffective against infections. higher healthcare costs
Ensuring antibiotics are prescribed only when necessary.
The consequences of antibiotic resistance are severe. Infections caused by resistant bacteria are more difficult to treat and can lead to longer hospital stays, higher healthcare costs, and increased mortality. Moreover, the loss of effective antibiotics threatens our ability to treat a wide range of infections, from common illnesses like pneumonia and tuberculosis to life-threatening conditions like sepsis and meningitis.
"...Alexander Fleming’s chance discovery of penicillin in 1928..."