Revenge of the Microbes: How Antibiotic Resistance Is Undermining the Antibiotic Miracle, Second Edition

Course overview

In this edition of Revenge of the Microbes, the authors detail the intricacies of the antibiotic-microbe arms race. Beginning with a historical perspective on antibiotics and their profound impact on both modern medicine and present-day society, they review our current arsenal against infectious diseases and the various ways pathogens evade or overcome them. The authors examine the practices and policies driving the discovery and development of new antibiotics, what happens to antibiotics once they are released into the environment, how antibiotic-resistant bacteria evolve and spread, and the urgency for finding alternative approaches to combating infections. This discussion of the controversies surrounding antibiotics will empower readers citizen scientists, policy makers, pharmaceutical researchers, and medical professionals alike, to generate informed opinions on antibiotic usage and stewardship as we contend with fewer effective antibiotics.