Think about it.
Before the invention of antibiotics, each and every child had to suffer through a certain number of bacterial “events”. In cases where the child survived, he/she was stronger for it. The bacteria was beat down, destroyed, and taken into by the body as an example to future bacteria of the same strain.
In today’s world, however, antibiotics are everywhere. We’re literally destroying them at every level. In the kitchen, in the bathroom, in our food. Hell, in our own bodies. We consume or come in contact with antibacterials every day. And as such, we’re exposed to fewer and fewer bacteria.
Children are exposed to fewer and fewer bacteria at young ages. This should be a good thing, but think about the implications. If children are exposed to fewer bacteria, then they have fewer and fewer opportunities to build up immunities to the assorted bacteria that they are sure to be bombarded with for the rest of their lives. And with lower resistances, more antibiotics will be required to “put down the invasion”. If these new more potent antibiotic agents are used in children (as they surely will be) then would this not lead to a once again lower resistance to bacteria?
As if this isn’t enough to think about, consider that when an antibacterial is used against the bacterial invader, some number of bacteria will likely make it through the “net”. Some bacteria will always survive. And much like a herd of buffalo, it is likely the slow and weak that will be picked off. Only the strong will survive.
Let’s go through a few cycles…
Without:
Bacteria -> sickness -> death
.or.
Bacteria -> sickness -> stronger immune system
With:
Bacteria -> sickness -> antibacterial -> strong survive -> sickness -> stronger antibiotics -> strong survive -> sickness -> etc.
So, as the antibiotics get stronger, so do the bacteria. There is less immediate death, of course, but is this an arms race that we can actually win? Especially with the prospect of each generation having fewer and fewer opportunities to be exposed to milder forms of bacteria based sicknesses? I’d be interested to hear other’s ideas on this one. Email me.