The Idea of an Essay, Volume 2

193 point researchers will run out of options in ways to kill bacteria with antibiotics. Other types of solutions are necessary now and most likely also necessary for long term control of bacteria. One novel solution researchers are currently developing is the use of nanosilver to combat antibiotic resistant E. coli and other microbes (Dugal and Chakraborty 498). In this treatment, silver particles disrupt the respiration of the bacteria which cuts off their ability to use energy and kills them (Dugal and Chakraborty 498). The benefits of this treatment include the fact that “silver has a far lower propensity to induce microbial resistance than antibiotics,” and “has been known to be nontoxic to humans in low concentrations” (Dugal and Chakraborty 498). Although this is a fairly new treatment, and more research is necessary before doctors can widely implement it, it has significant potential in the future. The problem right now is that no one fully knows all the potential side effects, and even if it works perfectly, it is expensive and only fights against E. coli and Pseudomonas, not other antibiotic resistant bacteria (Dugal and Chakraborty 500). Again, this solution is one that vulnerable humans cannot fully count on at this point to solve the problem of even one or two types of bacteria, let alone all types of bacteria. A slightly more hopeful solution under current research is furthering the use of vaccinations rather than antibiotics. Dr. Charles Knirsch, a senior administrator for a major medical research company, said in an interview, “I think the future, though, will be individual manipulation of the immune system, not just as immune suppressives but as immune adjuvants…I do think that vaccines will be used on individual patients both preventively but also therapeutically.” Although he admits he does not know the specifics of how this would work, Knirsch sees immune system manipulation as a hopeful future solution once someone develops it with further research. Solutions like this would dramatically impact the fight against antibiotic resistance, but again, an effective invention is not inevitable. Since this treatment is not currently available, standing by waiting for researchers to formulate it will not help the problem now. Aiming at immediate solutions, Toby Butler, a Quality Improvement Specialist for the Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality, presents a very practical, tangible strategy. He asserts that