The challenges of emerging infectious diseases: development and spread of multiply-resistant bacterial pathogens

Article Abstract:

Many clinically important bacteria are becoming resistant to some of the major classes of antibiotics. Bacterial resistance against penicillin was first noted in 1940, long before the drug was in widespread use. This indicates that gene mutations that confer resistance can occur in the absence of chronic antibiotic use. Once these genes mutate, they can be passed from one bacterium to another, even those that are not related. The widespread use of antibiotics in hospitals, nursing homes and cattle feedlots has caused drug resistance in bacteria by the same process of natural selection that led to the evolution of life. While multi-drug resistant bacteria are appearing throughout the world, the pharmaceutical industry has reduced research on new antibiotics. It is clear that new infection control procedures are needed to cope with this threat.

Causes of, Drug resistance in microorganisms, Microbial drug resistance

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Communicating about risk of infectious diseases

Article Abstract:

Scientists who need to communicate information about infectious diseases to the public need to focus on the most important points and present them in a manner that the public will understand. This communication will most likely take place in the print or broadcast media and probably through a journalist as the intermediary. The most common goals of health risk communication are to alert groups at risk, alleviate their concerns, change their behavior or give them information with which to make personal decisions about their risks. It is important not to create panic in the community, especially when little is known about a potentially infectious disease. It is also important not to stigmatize those at high risk, such as hospital patients, the elderly and the immunocompromised.

Methods, Communicable diseases, Media coverage, Health risk communication

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