Since first starting to write this post the title for the article I am citing has changed. I am not sure what scares me more - the fact that the media outlets are downplaying on what is a very IMPORTANT healthcare message... or that we have about 10 years left to live as we have been with antibiotics (as they are a big factor to the lives we currently enjoy).

In any case the prospect of an antibiotic free world is a scary one. It was described in the article as being akin to "post-antibiotic apocalypse" - and it remains to be seen just how scary that will be. One of the scariest parts of the article is the following quote by Professor Tim Walsh (Cardiff University School of Medicine Department of Infection, Immunity & Biochemistry): "We have a bleak window of maybe 10 years, where we are going to have to use the antibiotics we have very wisely, but also grapple with the reality that we have nothing to treat these infections with."

What does this mean exactly? Well for starters (tip of the iceburg stuff) nasty little STD's like Gonorrhea and Syphilis will become incurable - populations at higher risk for these diseases such as the gays will suffer more than others. Scary enough but add Tuberculosis XDR-TB (extremely drug resistant TB), which will kill of scores of people if there is ever an outbreak as there will be no cure. To top it all off Pneumonia will once again be the "Hitler" of the elderly, frail, and weak. These are all relatively common things - and there are dozens if not hundreds more - we can catch during our lives which for the time being are not very threatening. What I am gathering from the story is that this will all soon change.

One great tip - WASH YOUR HANDS. This is the most common way bacteria are spread and it is the starting point for disease. Our hands harbor the bacteria and then we touch our face, mouth, nose, eyes, or any open sore and they are invited in to multiply. Another would be to GO TO THE HOSPITAL ONLY WHEN YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO - hospitals are a breeding ground for some of the scariest diseases out there - like MRSA and Staphylococcus aureus - which you can pick up at the ER even if you go in for just a minor cold or ache. Try to visit a family doctor if at all possible, or try home remedies if it is not an emergency.

Read the full story for all of the scary details and stay healthy!