Super bugs:
what doesn’t kill them makes them stronger

Resistant bacteria and the reemergence of tuberculosis have caused doctors to take a new look at antibiotics.

Antibiotic uses have stimulated evolutionary changes unparalleled in recorded biological history. It works like this: When a colony of bacteria is dosed with, say, penicillin, most bacteria die. But a few survivors harbor mutant genes that make them immune to the drug. They survive and pass on resistant genes to their progeny. One bacterium can leave nearly 17 million offspring in 24 hours. These mutants share their resistant genes with unrelated microbes.

What you can do
The basic rule is to avoid frivolous use of antibiotics. Don’t treat viral infections like the common cold with antibiotics – you’re not doing yourself any favors.

Here are some easy guidelines when using antibiotics:

• Take them until the bottle is empty. If you have leftover antibiotics in your medicine cabinet, you’re already part of the problem. If you stop taking your meds early because the symptoms went away, you’re allowing the resistant organisms to survive, multiply and return stronger than ever.
• Be specific. Use only the most specific antibiotic possible. Targeted or “narrow spectrum” antibiotics will kill the offending bug without sparking resistance among other, friendlier bacteria living inside you.
• Be logical. Use the common antibiotics first. If they work, there’ll be no need to expose the bugs to a more exotic version. That way, you’ll be holding a second-line of defense in reserve for the future.
• Wash your hands. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Twenty seconds of vigorous hand washing with an antibacterial soap does wonders to stop the spread of bacteria. It’s much easier to kill those invisible health-snatchers before they get inside you. And don’t forget to clean under your fingernails.