Are you aware of......

**smurphy** · 04-09-2011, 01:32 PM

OK, I dont think this thread merited being in ID so...

Recently there was a thread discussing the most likely ways Armageddon will come about and I personally think something like a contagion will do mankind in. With that in mind are you aware of the threat to mankind through the simple act of not following through with taking a whole prescription of antibiotics?

In a nutshell, by not taking a whole course of antibiotics a person is giving the target bacteria or viruses a chance to acquire an immunity to an antibiotic which is effective against them. If an immunity is acquired this will spread through the population within a matter of time rendering an antibiotic useless. Because of this the number of antibiotics that can be used against infections is significantly less than previously. Take for example MRSA(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) which is immune to most antibiotics and is a blight in hospitals. This is a problem as there is only a limited number of antibiotics which have been discovered.

So do you always take the full course of antibiotics when one is issued regardless if youre feeling better before you have the taken the full course?
Or do you feel that taking the full prescription even after feeling better to be too much of a hassle? Were you aware of the effects of not taking a full prescription?

**Unknown Entity** · 04-09-2011, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by smurphy

So do you always take the full course of antibiotics when one is issued regardless if youre feeling better before you have the taken the full course?
Or do you feel that taking the full prescription even after feeling better to be too much of a hassle? Were you aware of the effects of not taking a full prescription?

I've never needed to take antibiotics, but I definitely know to finish the prescription course. My science teacher made sure we were clear on that at school, and almost ripped the head of a girl who said she never saw the point of finishing the prescription anyway...

Besides, taking a pill isn't a hassle. I bet you wouldn't forget to take THE pill if you didn't want to get pregnant - why would you want to up the chances of getting sick again?

**Furore** · 04-09-2011, 11:23 PM

I drink enough spirits that I assume (perhaps foolishly) that the vast majority of microscopic life inside me is quite dead. Wouldn't be something everyone can manage though, as drinking copious amounts makes some sick and I've even heard of people dying...

As for taking a full prescription of antibiotics, I haven't had to in years, but I would take the whole amount recommended by a doctor. I figure those little bastards are that small that if I don't keep taking that stuff even after I feel better some that might have tucked themselves away or survived the first part of the treatment somewhere might decide to multiply again putting me back where I started.

**Sinister** · 04-10-2011, 11:54 PM

I think the most likely thing to do mankind in is it's own greed. Do you know of the QE3 incident!? Well, I suppose it hasn't happened yet...but I can assure you it will in some form.

Either way, do you realize the danger posed by such things as antibacterial soap?! Such things create MRSA and other antibiotic resistant bacteria. Ever since, back in ancient times, that they found that crossbows could penetrate ring mail and that other types of armor prevented the damage, the evolutionary processes of defense VS pathogen have been realized.

It has always been the way of controlling a "surplus population", as Scrooge would've called it. Defense and offense will ALWAYS evolve together. That is the way of things.

Either way, this QE3 incident, who knows what will result. We could end up with a completely different nation or even a financial union, such as the EU. We can only wait and see.

-Sin

**Tepsha** · 04-11-2011, 07:18 AM

I think Zombies will be what takes the world down into shambles. Or at least thats what I am hoping for haha

**smurphy** · 04-12-2011, 12:05 PM

Ah hate to go off topic but I have researched QE3 and as a student of economics I cannot understand why these experts think that pumping money that only exists on paperwork into an economy will solve everything. Anything to keep the fatcat Bondholders and Shareholders happy(I should know what they are capable of after pressuring the EU to f*ck over Ireland). Neoliberalism. Gotta love it.

But regarding the antibiotics they are not mutating fast enough to keep up with malignant bacteria and viruses which is the source of the problem. The defence vs pathogen battle is currently being won by the pathogens.

**Sinister** · 04-12-2011, 01:22 PM

This is true, for the moment, smurphy, but the pendulum always swings back. We lost the lead, temporarily thanks to bad management of our weapons. Hopefully it's a lesson learned.

As for the QE3 incident. I suppose we'll see. People are predicting that the effects of this "hyper-inflation" will hit before the year is out. As a University student, I'm disenchanted with this. Not the best timing for me, specially since most of my money comes from student loans these days. And it if the US does go down, it will DRASTICALLY affect the global economy, is that not right?

-Sin