What I've learned...plus some links

CBS news(superbugs)

Food and Drug Administration(antibiotic resistance)

PubMed(bacterial resistance to disinfectants)

In the research I've done thus far, I've learned that the overuse of antibiotics is allowing bacteria to become resistant to the most common antibiotics, such as penicillin and amoxicillin. People are contracting super bugs, which are only treatable by the strongest, most expensive, and last resort antibiotic called vancomycin. The largest problem is that certain infections (mainly the staph infection seen in DuPage County) are becoming resistant to this drug as well, leaving us with no last resorts. Another problem contributing to the development of super bugs is the overuse of disinfectants. When people use disinfectants when they are healthy, it makes them less effective when they actually need them. This is because the most common disinfectant is becoming less effective as bacteria are starting to resist it. This, in turn, is contributing to stronger bacteria that are able to resist antibiotics. Another problem with disinfectants is that once you use them, you become instantly re-contaminated the second you touch something. The most important thing in fighting these super bugs is hand washing-especially the scrubbing action, which is what gets rid of the germs. Contrary to popular belief, the scrubbing action and warm water are more important than whether or not the soap is antibacterial.

What I still need to learn is how the chemicals in disinfectants are affecting our immune system and how this is affecting our bodies' ability to fight the super bugs on its own. I also need to decide if I want to include America's obsession with antibiotics and disinfectants-the psychological side of things. There is also a lot more information about types of antibiotics and disinfectants and how they actually work that I haven't even touched on yet.