Antibiotics revolutionized health care in the early 20th century, helping kill bacteria that once killed thousands of people. But bacteria are also constantly outsmarting science, and new strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria are popping up more frequently. This week's Speaking of Chemistry focuses on the current shortage of new antibiotics and discusses the prospects for new drugs. The episode also answers the question: Why should you finish your pills if you feel better? Check it out:
Antibiotics are just one kind of medicine that chemistry makes possible. Want to learn about cutting-edge drug discovery? Attend a FREE conference — online — from C&EN. Watch live on September 24, or see archived talks during all of 2014. Sign up at http://cenm.ag/symposium
Source: American Chemical Society