Bacteria have lived on the planet for more than 3 billion years. There is no indication that they will ever cease to exist. Strains are destroyed by antibiotics, mutate and become resistant to drugs. Roughly every 20 minutes, a new generation of bacteria is created in the world, and in 1 hour, roughly 300 bacteria are formed from just 1 cell. In the war against bacteria, we are in a losing position. We must learn to live with them.
Epidemiologists like detectives
Epidemiologists, whose work in the field resembles a detective investigation, can answer this question. There are 'suspects' and 'witnesses', scientists collect interviews and test hypotheses. "For every epidemic, the pattern is the same: we identify the pathogen, look for its source and routes of transmission. All this is done in order to prevent the spread of the epidemic, to treat the sick effectively and to prevent future outbreaks," - says Dr Agnieszka Motyl from Medicover
Clean hands and a clear conscience
The O104:H4 enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli bacterium, which is currently taking a deadly toll in Europe, contains genes found in two different strains of E. Coli. Gene exchange between different microbial strains occurs in nature spontaneously but can also be the result of deliberate human action. Scientists are looking particularly closely at new strains of pathogens that could potentially be used as bioweapons (these include E.coli strain O157:H7). It is known that, unfortunately, research into such weapons is ongoing in many laboratories around the world (according to reliable sources, about 20 countries have these weapons ). Their side effect may be the accidental escape of dangerous bacteria.
The emergence of the O104:H4 bacteria has also been linked by some scientists to radioactive dust spewed from the earthquake-damaged Fukushima power plant. Food- and water-borne infections have an enormous potential to spread rapidly, especially when products are exchanged smoothly between countries, as is the case within the European Union. Once again, therefore, it is proving to be the case that we can only take the best care of our own safety.
photo ojoimages
By remembering the rules of hygiene, by sensitising both our loved ones and the entire environment in which we live, we can avoid infection. For it is still possible to function safely in a world full of bacteria. What is needed is to know how to avoid them.
