Ouch. I scratched myself shaving this morning.
It stung a little. Just to be safe I washed it off and then put a dab of antibiotic ointment on it. No problem.
But the question being asked more and more is: for how long will the antibiotic method continue to work?
The sad fact is we may be entering what scientists are calling the post-antibiotic era. If this is the case, that scratch I happened to get while shaving this morning could turn out to be fatal. It’s all thanks to superbugs—more formally known as drug-resistant bacteria.
bacteria
Germ-Killing Robots
A study by Duke Health finds a new tool that produces a type of ultraviolet light, which could help hospitals fight drug-resistant bacterial infections.
Single-Cell Organisms: Lesson Plan
Learn about protists—single-celled organisms that carry out the basic functions of life.
Rapid Water Test: Lesson Plan
Learn about testing water quality in freshwater systems and in coastal waters. Then find out how testing is being used to determine water safety at North Carolina beaches.
Hurricane Matthew: The Science of Cleanup: Lesson Plan
The cleanup after Hurricane Matthew means a race against mold and bacteria, both of which can grow in a damp environment and can cause disease.
Hurricane Matthew: the Science of Cleanup
Hurricane Matthew's floodwaters are receding, but it's the mess, left behind, that could be dangerous. NC Science Now's Frank Graff explains the hazards of cleaning up.
Harnessing Microbials: Lesson Plan
Summarize how the abiotic factors of biomes affect the ability of organisms to grow, survive, and carry out photosynthesis, then learn more about how researchers in North Carolina are studying one abiotic factor, soil, and how the microorganisms it contains help contribute to the health of plants.
It's the Pits: Lesson Plan
Antiperspirants and deodorants change the microbial life on your body.
Oh Shuck!: Lesson Plan
Determine the value of oysters as a marine resource and food source, and learn how researchers are studying Vibrio (a type of bacteria found in some raw oysters) to help determine if there are certain times of year that are safer to harvest and eat the oysters found in coastal North Carolina.
The Clean Revolution
If you want to understand the uniquely American obsession with cleanliness, including the use of deodorants, you have to start with the United States military. More specifically, you have to start with a pivotal point in military history that not only changed America, but in the long run, also changed how Americans viewed sanitation.