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Missing Microbes

The book Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics is Fueling Our Modern Plagues by Dr. Martin Blaser challenges the belief that many hold that antibiotics may not cause any harm. Dr. Martin explores the extensive research that he has done and asserts that antibiotics may affect us in the long term. He compares antibiotics too ice cream in his book to point out how they can be both good and harmful, “I’m not against antibiotics any more than I’m against ice cream – both great at serving their purpose – but sometimes there can be too much of a good thing” (Blaser, pg. 122). Antibiotics have helped many people recuperate when they have infections and Dr. Blaser also accepts that these drugs have helped cure his loved ones from various illnesses including typhoid and fever.

In writing his book, Dr. Blaser reflects back to a golden age in medicine whereby antibiotics were to go to drugs when patients suffered from infections such as meningitis tuberculosis, scarlet fever among other diseases. However, he is quick to point out a distinction between the age when antibiotics cured meningitis and how they are now being used. He points out the liberal and reflexive use that he points out is more common now for example a person suffering from upper respiratory tract infection is likely to be given antibiotics and this is contributing to the problem on use of antibiotics. Blasler’s argument is that although antibiotics kill bacteria, they may be killing too many. He believes that the wide use of antibiotics is leading to the extinction of certain species by maiming invisible organ that may be important in keeping us alive. Microbes that resides in our bodies have co-evolved and losing them translates to loosing certain parts of ourselves

In pointing out the effect of killing these microbes, Blaser attributes obesity as a result of messing with microbiota. In one of his research where mice were being given antibiotics, they had more fat in their bodies. Children who receive antibiotics in the first six months of their life are likely to gain weight. He also associates certain chronic conditions such as IBD, diabetes, allergies, celiac and autism to the fact that certain microbes may be missing (Blaser, 121). Blaser raises concerns that the microbe’s problem is getting worse as children born in different generation have reduced microbiota. He also covers the issue of antibiotic resistance on how antibiotics kill all bacteria except this that have developed resistance and they flourish in the body. He drives the point that soon drugs will be powerless towards certain infections.

Blaser’s arguments affects how patients will be treated in the future. An example is banning the use of antibiotics as they are used in fattening of animals that need to be slaughtered. Even if one does not consume antibiotics prescribed clinically they are likely to consume them in meat consumed and may alter the microbiota in the body. Resistance by antibiotics is a clear reason as to why we need to stop using antibiotics carelessly. Bacteria are evolving and soon there will be bacterial infections that will not be treated with the use of antibiotics. Blaser’s arguments led to a discussion on better ways that treatment may be administered without overuse of antibiotics thus ensuring that the microbes are not affected

There has been recent research pointing out that certain intestinal infections are as a result of antibiotics called clostridium difficult. The intestinal infections have proved to be quite a challenge in treating it and at times surgery is needed such as removal of the colon surgically and at times the infection results in death. The evolution and natural selection happening on the antibiotics is resulting in a race between evolution and chemistry as pharmaceutical industries try to create antibiotics that will help destroy these strain of bacteria’s that have developed resistance. There have been concern on the prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics has contributed to the antibiotic resistance. Physicians have pointed out concern that patients who need antibiotics may begin rejecting them with the fear that it will do harm in the long run yet the patients may be in need.

Prebiotics and probiotics have been suggested as ways that can be used to ensure the alteration of microbes is restored. Probiotics are microbes used in altering the metabolic activities of a microbiota. In the past, probiotics were utilized in animal feeds but with more research being done, they are now available and can be purchased over the counter as healthy foods that are freeze dried. Prebiotics on the other hand are food ingredients mostly the oligosaccharides which escapes digestion in the gastrointestinal tract stimulating the growth of certain bacteria such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. Through the use of probiotics and prebiotics it helps in modulation of normal microflora that has proved to be useful to the host (Preidis, pg. 2015-31).

The book clearly points out how certain disease continue to spread by killing as well as disruption of microbes in the body. Microbes have proved to be important in helping fight certain infection. A good example is the gastrointestinal tract which has more than 10 trillion organisms which protect the gut rom colonization by disease causing organisms. They also have other roles including synthesizing of vitamins, braking down food to absorbable nutrients and stimulating our immune system. When these microbes are altered by misuse of antibiotics certain disease causing organism may likely to result. Clostridium defficle coltis is a perfect example as it causes diarrhea. The condition arises after antibiotics get to skew with the normal population of microbiota in the gut favoring toxin-producing organism. These infectious diseases in order to be treated need powerful drugs in order to control them yet this was not the case a few years ago.

Ulcers and stomach cancers are disease that have been attributed to the intake of antibiotics. Helicobacter pylori a bacteria found in the stomach as slowly been eradicated by antibiotics. H. Pylori has often been referred to as the ulcer bacteria. When these bacteria slowly vanish, there are diseases that follow including esophageal diseases and inflammation which may result in heartburn or in worse cases cancer. The bad germ has proved good in protecting esophagus from infection. Although antibiotics will treat an infection, it is less likely that the microbial community will regain the original composition (Keeney, pg. 217-235).

Antibiotic increases susceptibility of humans to salmonellosois. Patients with this bacterium suffer from fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. People susceptible to this infection are often people who are immunocompromised for example the elderly or children but recent research has shown people recovering from an antibiotic treatment may be susceptible to this infection. Gut dysbiosis which results from use of antibiotics has a strong correlation with other diseases that include inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity and atopy. It is for a fact that antibiotics have helped in curing major disease but has also caused collateral damage on the microbiota. It is important to thus look into ways that will ensure intake of antibiotics is not misused.

Works Cited

Blaser, M. J. “Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics Is Fueling Our Modern Plagues (Henry Holt and Company, New York).” (2014).

Keeney, Kristie M., et al. “Effects of antibiotics on human microbiota and subsequent disease.” Annual review of microbiology 68 (2014): 217-235.

Preidis, Geoffrey A., and James Versalovic. “Targeting the human microbiome with antibiotics, probiotics, and prebiotics: gastroenterology enters the metagenomics era.” Gastroenterology 136.6 (2009): 2015-2031.