The Killers Within (The Deadly Rise of Drug-Resistant Bacteria) #1

pages 1-60

SUMMARY

Glenn Morris was in his forties. Both head of epidemiology at his hospital and chairman of the university department. He was interested in discovering the unexpected and the unknown upon the medical world. One day as he arrived at his hospital, there were 6 patients already waiting for him. Since it was a VA hospital, most of his patients were elderly and men. Ten years ago, antibiotics were the answer to everything, especially towards bacterial infections. However, ten years ago is the past and this is the present. Horrifically, on average of 20 percent of patients that Morris would treat among clinical rounds had infections that antibiotics can not cure. Not only antibiotics, but also resistant to many more drugs. Even though, bacteria are the smallest creatures on earth, they can be very dangerous. There's a possibility that bacteria even has the ability to change drugs and make themselves resistant. People always thought that hospitals are no harm at all. But, think again. Patients who can get better, could also catch an bacterial infection. The beds are filled with bacteria that can harm your health, and kill you as well.

QUOTE

"That was more than half the number of servicemen who had died during the entire Vietnam War (Shnayerson & Plotkin 16)."

REACTION

Instead of given information after information, the authors includes the daily life of a doctor and adds the feelings upon what he discovers about bacterial infections. History books are usually gives so much details upon the history that it looses the reader's attention. However, this book includes just enough details and a bit of dark humor which would keep the reader interested. The quote shows how toxic hospital beds can be. Why are the beds so toxic? The reason is possibly because the doctors are usually too busy to remember to wash their hands. Also, it could be that the former patient was had the infection left their bacteria remains on the bed sheets. Not only that people die in the war, but also can risk their lives helping as a service man in the hospital. What is more dangerous, the war itself or the hospital?