Issue Investigation Essay – Evolution of Superbugs

INTRODUCTION
The issue that humanity is facing currently is that antibiotics have become less effective
than they were before. This is because the antibiotics have been used so often that the
infectious bacteria have become immune to the antibiotics. The antibiotics caused the Comment [VC1]: overuse or improper use of

bacteria to evolve into superbugs, which are highly antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This can
become a very significant issue in the future because if humanity continues to use stronger Comment [VC2]: serious

antibiotics for diseases on a daily basis, humans would eventually develop a superbug that
would be immune to every antibiotic that has ever been developed. This would make it
nearly impossible for humanity to treat diseases in the future. Scientists have warned of this
coming antibiotics crisis over 60 years ago, but they were ignored. However, it was later
believed due to the substantial increase in the appearance of resistant strains of bacteria
(STAT. 2016). This investigation will discuss about antibacterial resistance, some arguments Comment [VC3]: can be rephrased to make o
sentence. Can be written as 'Although the warnin
against and for the use of antibiotics, and also some suggestions to prevent the of scientists regarding this antibiotic crisis have
development of superbugs. been previously ignored, the seriousnes of this iss
is of major concern in recent years due to the
substantial increase in the appearance of resistan
BIOLOGICAL BACKGROUND strains of bacteria.

Antibiotics are used to prevent and treat bacterial infections since it has been proved to be
one of the best solutions in treating deadly diseases. However, taking antibiotics too often Comment [VC4]: Reference?
or for the wrong reasons can change bacteria so much that antibiotics don't work against Comment [VC5]: incorrect usage of antibiotic
you mean?
them. This leads the bacteria to become Antibiotic resistance, which occurs when bacteria
Comment [VC6]: change the bacteria to adap
change in response to the use of these medicines to be resistant from them (WHO 2020). after coming into contact with an antibiotic such
This also causes the antibiotic to become less effective. Due to this antibacterial resistance, that antibiotic cannot kill the bacteria or stop the
superbugs are formed. from multiplying.
Comment [VC7]: antibiotic resistant or resista
to antibiotics. or you can write this leads the
Superbugs are a strain of bacteria that are resistant to common antibiotics. Since the bacteria to develop antibiotic resistance
discovery of antibiotics, the bacteria they treat have been adapting and changing to build up
resistance (Aftermaths.com. 2014). These antibiotic-resistant bacteria are known as Comment [VC8]: to develop into superbugs
superbugs, and they can cause severe bacterial infections that are extremely difficult to Comment [VC9]: repetitive, no need
treat. The development of superbugs is proved to be linked to the theory of natural Comment [VC10]: Superbugs
selection.

Natural selection is the process where organisms who are better adapted to their
environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. Superbugs were once bacteria Comment [VC11]: A few point for your
consideration: antibiotics may not kill off all the
who were easily treatable by antibiotics but as people started to use antibiotics more often bacteria causing your illness. Most bacteria have
short lifecycle and therefore the opportunity for
for minor reasons such as headaches and cough. Bacteria started to adapt to those genetic change and mutation is high.
antibiotics to survive and produce offspring which were resistant to those antibiotics, These mutation allow the bacteria to develop
resistance against antibiotics. This is how natural
leading to the evolution of superbugs. selection work. So once the antibiotics killed
everything else off and what's left over is stronge
The evolution of superbugs is one of the most concerning issues among scientist since they than what was there before.

are worried that if humanity kept using more stronger antibiotics to treat deadly diseases, Comment [VC12]:

eventually we will enter the post-antibiotics age, where we would be infected by a bacteria Comment [VC13]: deadly ? or just diseases?
Comment [VC14]: or overuse antibiotics
(superbug) that can adapt to the strongest antibiotic and defeat every drug, medicine has to
offer. This would make it nearly impossible for humanity to treat diseases in the future.
ARGUMENTS FOR THE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS

 Slows down the growth of bacteria (Keck Medicine of USC. 2018)

Antibiotics prevent nutrients from reaching the bacteria, which stops them from dividing Comment [VC15]: Need a topic sentence her
to introduce the argument
and multiplying. It directly attacks the bacterial cell wall, which injures the cell. This makes
the bacteria not being able to attack the body, preventing these cells from doing any further
damage within the body. Because millions of bacteria are needed to continue the disease
process, these antibiotics can stop the infection and give the body’s immune system, time to
attack (HealthyChildren.org. 2020). Comment [VC16]: research some articles to
show how antibotics are useful and provide some

evidence to support your arguments

ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS

 Antibiotics destroy 'good bacteria' (ScienceDaily. 2018)

A team of researchers observed “resident” bacteria, their fatty acids, and their effect on Comment [VC17]: A topic sentence to introdu
your argument against the use of antibiotics wou
certain types of white blood cells that combat infections in the mouth. They discovered that be good
antibiotics destroy the good bacteria, which, therefore, diminishes the production of SCFAs
and damages the ability of white blood cells from fighting off fungal infections. In other
words, the antibiotics hurt the body’s immune response and make it difficult to protect
itself against harmful germs. When the body is healthy, it houses good bacteria that
produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), which, in turn, promote the development and
maintenance of white blood cells. Those white blood cells — called Tregs and Th-17 — are
then able to fight and protect us from fungal infections and harmful viruses and keep
inflammation at a minimum.

 Cause antibacterial resistant bacteria to form

Taking antibiotics too often leads to the development of antibacterial resistant bacteria.
Which are the bacteria that are very harmful to humans and are impossible to treat
According to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) every year, more
than 2 million people are infected by antibiotic-resistant infections, and at least 23,000 dies
(CDC 2020). Comment [VC18]: https://www.reactgroup.o
toolbox/understand/how-did-we-end-up-
here/antibiotics-in-the-environment/
please have a read through the above article to g
some idea about the consequences of using
SCIENTIFIC STATEMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS TO PREVENT THE EVOLUTION OF SUPERBUGS antibiotics in addition to the development of
antibiotic resistant bacteria. May be you can add
some points from this article
According to Dr. Jane Knisely, who is a scientist working at NIH (National Institutes of Health)
suggests to make the best use of drugs that we have, as there are not many in the antibiotic Comment [VC19]: we need to

development pipeline. He also suggests that understanding the proper usage of these drugs Comment [VC20]: He or She?

can help to increase their maximum effectiveness and also decrease the chances of
resistance to emerge.
Antibiotics should be used properly and only when needed. It is not beneficial to insist on an
antibiotic if not advised by the health care provider. For example, many parents expect
doctors to prescribe antibiotics for a child’s ear infection. But experts recommend delaying
for a time in certain situations, as many ear infections get better without antibiotics.
NIH inspected whether antibiotics are effective for treating a certain condition like flu or
cold. One recent study showed that antibiotics may be less effective than previously
thought for treating a common type of sinus infection. This proves that antibiotics are only
effective when used appropriately and when prescribed by the doctor (Stop the Spread of
Superbugs 2017). Comment [VC21]: these 3 paragraphs can be
written in 1 paragraph
CONCLUSION
Antibiotics are doing more harm than good to humans by hurting our immune system and
developing harmful antibacterial resistant bacteria (superbugs). But superbugs can be
prevented if antibiotics are not taken for minor reasons and are taken as prescribed by the
doctor. Comment [VC22]: Conclusion can be a little
more detailed by including main points discussed
above

EVIDENCE OF RESEARCH – BIBLIOGRAPHY

STAT. (2016). The surprising history of the war on superbugs. [online] Available at:
https://www.statnews.com/2016/09/12/superbug-antibiotic-resistance-history/ [Accessed
11 Sep. 2020].

World Health Organization: WHO (2020). Antibiotic resistance. [online] Who.int. Available at:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antibiotic-resistance [Accessed 12 Sep.
2020].

Aftermath.com. (2014). 5 Common Superbug Infections Caused by Bacteria – Aftermath

Services. [online] Available at: https://www.aftermath.com/content/superbug-infection-
bacteria/ [Accessed 13 Sep. 2020].

Keck Medicine of USC. (2018). The Pros and Cons of Antibiotics | | Keck Medicine of USC.
[online] Available at: https://www.keckmedicine.org/the-pros-and-cons-of-antibiotics/
[Accessed 13 Sep. 2020].

ScienceDaily. (2018). Antibiotics destroy “good bacteria” and worsen oral infection. [online]
Available at: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/09/180926082539.htm
[Accessed 13 Sep. 2020].
Rogers, G.B., Carroll, M.P. and Bruce, K.D. (2012). Enhancing the utility of existing antibiotics
by targeting bacterial behaviour? British Journal of Pharmacology, [online] 165(4), pp.845–
857. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3312482/ [Accessed 13
Sep. 2020].
Stop the Spread of Superbugs (2017). Stop the Spread of Superbugs. [online] NIH News in
Health. Available at: https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2014/02/stop-spread-superbugs
[Accessed 15 Sep. 2020].

HealthyChildren.org. (2020). How Do Antibiotics Work? [online] Available at:

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/treatments/Pages/How-Do-
Antibiotics-
Work.aspx#:~:text=They%20may%20directly%20attack%20the,the%20bacteria’s%20growt
h%20or%20reproduction. [Accessed 15 Sep. 2020].

CDC (2020). Antibiotic / Antimicrobial Resistance. [online] Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/index.html [Accessed 16 Sep.
2020].