Article Review on Cres and Zika Virus

I read the article “A stealthy superbug appears to be spreading in us hospitals, study finds.” And for the article on an additional case study, I read “With latest Zika research, our picture of the virus gets cloudier.” Just as mysterious as other viruses, scientists haven’t fully understood the picture yet, let alone find the cure for Zika virus. Nevertheless, Zika vaccines is currently being developed, which is related to my case study on antibiotics, so it automatically intrigues me to read the article.

For the assigned article for my case study, I learned about a class of bacteria, CREs. The fact that they have more ways to avoid antibiotics, including last-resort drug, is already intimidating. Besides being resistant to antibiotics, they are even able to transfer the resistance within the families. Furthermore, this superbug has been more stealthily than scientists can predict. Even though there exists no evidence of transmission, this series of bacteria has been very concerning. Thus, broadened surveillance is needed for further studies. And for the additional case study on Zika virus, despite the fact that it could cause serious birth defects if it infected a fetus in the womb, scientists haven’t had any clue on how often it happens. Specifically, what stands out for me in this article is that how scientists process and evaluate the data itself. Beginning from analyzing different background information (stages, methodologies etc.), scientists continued to the characters of objects being studied in two studies. It also identifies elements might cause the inaccuracy. Antibiotics have started to fail.

Cases of CREs and Zika virus have been the perfect examples: one series of bacteria cannot be defeated due to widespread and often inappropriate use of antibiotics, while the other still remains to be a mystery probably due to the complexity of the virus itself. Antibiotic resistance has cast a shadow over the medical effectiveness we used to take for granted. Yet, we are well alarmed. Deficiency in antibiotics leads to either the birth of superbugs or the virus too complicated to handle. These viruses have already caused more than thousands of deaths. However, so far, scientists still only have a blurry picture of both cases. Diverse research stages, excess variables and multiple complicated mechanisms are all impeding researchers from identifying the primary culprit. Researches do take time, but either case is optimistic if radical actions are not taken. With no doubt, further studies are more than urgently needed.

As stated in Hedonistic Utilitarianism, human beings have taken constant actions since it maximizes the net balance of advantages over disadvantages. Yet, do human beings, we really do good instead of trapping ourselves?

In my perspective of view, overprescribe, overuse, even misuse of antibiotics, leads us to this situation here today. What’s often ignored by individuals is the fact that antibiotics kill the good bacteria side along with the bad one. Moreover, the potential side effects are usually cast aside, not to mention the real threat. Antibiotic resistance is more than a future threat; it is present. The threat is so epic and present that even scare individuals. Indeed, what the articles illustrate is so true. Individuals are sitting in horror as viruses become over-resistant to even the last-resort antibiotic, while scientists are struggling to identify mechanisms. It will be biased to say antibiotics are bad, or individuals have to restrict uses of antibiotics; however, we do have to treat antibiotics more seriously and carefully.

Doctors do write prescriptions more prudently nowadays, and it’s still very promising among scientists to create new antibiotics to meet the need. At the end of the day, it’s all about striking the balance.