Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotics have saved countless lives since their discovery in the twentieth century.

自20世紀被發現以來，抗生素已經拯救了無數生命。

Yet bacteria are evolving to survive the very medicines designed to destroy them.

然而，細菌正在演化，以便在專為消滅它們而設計的藥物面前存活下來。

Each time an antibiotic is used, the most resistant bacteria have a chance to multiply.

每使用一次抗生素，抗藥性最強的細菌就有機會繁殖。

Overprescription and the widespread use of antibiotics in farming have accelerated this process.

抗生素的過度處方以及在農業中的廣泛使用，加速了這個過程。

As a result, some common infections are becoming increasingly difficult to treat.

因此，一些常見的感染正變得越來越難治療。

Developing new antibiotics is expensive and offers limited financial rewards for companies.

研發新的抗生素成本高昂，而企業能得到的經濟回報卻相當有限。

Health authorities are therefore urging doctors to prescribe them more cautiously.

因此，衛生主管機關正呼籲醫師更謹慎地開立抗生素。

Patients can help by completing their treatment and never sharing medication.

患者可以透過完成整個療程、絕不與他人共用藥物來提供幫助。

Without coordinated global action, routine surgery could become far more dangerous.

如果沒有協調一致的全球行動，例行手術可能會變得危險許多。