Annals Graphic Medicine – 50 Shades of Gray Matter
Art by Sharon Rosenzweig, BFA, MFA; written, edited, and produced by Aaron Freeman; and original music by Torin Hopkins.
Art by Sharon Rosenzweig, BFA, MFA; written, edited, and produced by Aaron Freeman; and original music by Torin Hopkins.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at Northwestern Baldwin Auditorium
Infectious disease has been a big problem for living things since long before there were humans. Humans have used various medicines for thousands of years to reduce the impact of infectious disease, but the development of antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs over the last 100 years has been one of the greatest advancements in medicine. These drugs have saved countless lives from otherwise fatal infections. Unfortunately, this good news doesn’t last. Continue reading “The Threat of Superbugs – Robert A. Weinstein, Robert S. Daum, Scott Franzblau, and Michael Federle”
Infectious disease has been a big problem for living things since long before there were humans. Humans have used various medicines for thousands of years to reduce the impact of infectious disease, but the development of antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs over the last 100 years has been one of the greatest advancements in medicine. These drugs have saved countless lives from otherwise fatal infections. Unfortunately, this good news doesn’t last.
By Paul Caine Producer, WTTW’s Chicago Tonight
Originally published at: https://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2015/04/28/threat-superbugs
The World Health Organization warns that the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria or “superbugs” means that we could be on the brink of a “post-antibiotic era” in which common infections and minor injuries can once again kill. They say the situation is “so serious that it threatens the achievements of modern medicine.” We talk with The University of Chicago’s Dr. Robert Daum and University of Illinois at Chicago’s Dr. Scott Franzblau about the scale of the threat and what we can all do to try and contain it.
The drugs we’ve relied on for over 70 years to keep us safe—from small cuts to deadly systemic infections—are becoming less effective.
Broad-spectrum antibiotics, which target multiple types of bacteria at once, are prescribed when more targeted drugs could be used. Or, antibiotics are prescribed for infections that are caused by viruses rather than bacteria, something antibiotics are useless against. In our homes, use of antibacterial products such as soap and cleansers is on the rise. And in the US, 80 percent of antibiotic use is on the farm, to prevent disease and promote growth in livestock.
“Science on Screen” will explore the ways that filmmakers and scientists can work together to maximize their creative, communicative, and commercial aims. Covering both documentary film and narrative drama, the workshop will examine how filmmakers can be inspired by real scientific research, and in turn, how working scientists can collaborate with artists to ensure their science is represented responsibly on screen.