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Viruses vs. Superbugs: A Solution to the Antibiotics Crisis?
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 616
EAN: 9780230551930
Edition: Reprint
ISBN: 0230551939
Label: Macmillan
Manufacturer: Macmillan
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 256
Publication Date: December 26, 2007
Publisher: Macmillan
Release Date: December 26, 2007
Studio: Macmillan
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Editorial Review:
In the US alone some 90,000 people die from superbugs--bacteria that have grown immune to antibiotics. Officials agree that this problem will only get worse with time and new alternatives must be found. One alternative that is being considered by scientists is a kind of virus called a bacteriophage. "Phages"--viruses that kill bacteria but not humans--were discovered in 1915. Phage therapy was successfully used for twenty years before the invention of penicillin made them obsolete everywhere but Eastern Europe, where they are still in use today. In its first English translation, this book tells the fascinating story behind the history of the phage, its discovery and development, as well as the strides that are being made to bring the therapy back to the West today.
In the U.S. alone some 90,000 people die from superbugs--bacteria that have grown immune to antibiotics. Officials agree that this problem will only get worse with time and new drugs must be found. One hope is bacteriophages, or "Phages"--viruses that kill bacteria but not humans. Discovered in 1915, phage therapy was successfully used against infections for twenty years before the invention of penicillin made them obsolete everywhere but Eastern Europe, where they are still in use today. In its first English translation, this book tells the fascinating story of the discovery and development of phages and details the strides being made to bring the therapy back to the West today.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - Good, thorough telling of the story
Phage therapy, like passive immunization, is a great "back to the future" medical story. It has gotten some attention from science journalists but, to date, everybody has just told part of the story. Thomas Hausler, in writing "Viruses vs Superbugs", has filled out the story and offers a persuasive case for phage therapy's continued relevance. The history chapters are especially fascinating. I was not previously aware of the extent to which epidemiological studies had been conducted.
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