VOA标准英语--后抗生素时代来了吗

后抗生素时代来了吗

In 2015, the World Health Organization warned that we are heading toward a "post-antibiotic¹ era," when more people will die from common infections.

2015年，世卫组织警告称人类正向“后抗生素时代”迈进，普通传染病致死量增加。

In India alone, there is an estimated 58,000 infants who have died because of a single resistant² infection in just one year.

据预测仅在印度，一年内死于传染病的婴儿数量达到5.8万。

The CDC estimates 23,000 people die in the US in 2014 because of drug resistance.Doctor Michael Bell says the problem is huge.

据疾病预防控制中心预测在2014年，2,3万美国人因耐药性死亡。迈克尔·贝尔医生认为此问题非常严重。

For the longest time we've had a number of different antibiotics³ in the pipeline⁴ at any given time, so whenever we ran out of the ability to use one, we would move to the next one. Unfortunately, right now the number of antibiotics in the pipeline is essentially⁵ zero.

无论何时，我们都会预备一些不同种类的抗生素，当细菌出现耐药性，我们会使用下一类抗生素。但不幸的是，我们现在没有任何抗生素储备。

Bacteria are constantly evolving. So those survived the drugs designed to kill them reproduce. That's normal. And antibiotics themselves do not cause resistence,but improper⁶ antibiotics is one of the key drivers for the development of antibiotic-resistant germs.

细菌正不断进化。所以许多“漏网之鱼”又有了繁殖机会。这很正常。抗生素本身不会让细菌产生耐药性，但如果使用不当，抗生素就成为了病菌耐药的罪魁祸首之一。

To make matters worse,most people don't understand that antibiotics can be effective only against bacterial⁷ infections, not for virus like the flu or cold.

更糟糕的是，人们并不知道抗生素只适用于非病毒感染，对像流感，感冒等病毒无济于事。

To resolve the crisis, scientist are working on developing new drugs.But more crucially right now is saving what we have.

为了解决这一危机，科学家正在研制新药。但现在最重要的是实施拯救计划。

A CDC study found US hospitals were prescribing stronger antibiotics and more drugs than necessary. The agency asked hospital practitioners⁸ to be more careful in prescribing antibiotics. The CDC is also looking at the causes of infections.

疾病预防控制中心的一项研究发现，美国医院给予病患的抗生素药性强，并有多开药现象。该机构还要求医疗工作者谨慎开药。该中心正在对传染成因进行研究。

Antibiotic resistance is being generated by not only using too many antibiotics,but also, by spread of infection by lack of hygiene⁹, from unintended contact with soiled surfaces, so the infection control side is equally important.

耐药性不仅仅是因乱用抗生素造成，卫生条件差也会导致疾病传播，不小心接触污染源，所以疾病防控也同等重要。

Individuals can also help. On its website, the CDC tells people to take all antibiotics as prescribed and to finish the course of the drugs, even if they feel better.

个人也可助一臂之力。该机构官网建议病患按照医嘱服用所有抗生素药物，即使病情转好也要坚持到疗程结束。

Still, urgent action on a global level is needed to prevent the catastrophe¹⁰ that a post-antibiotic era would cause.

全球需采取紧急行动防止“后抗生素时代”灾难。

1 antibiotic   

adj.抗菌的；n.抗生素

参考例句：

• The doctor said that I should take some antibiotic.医生说我应该服些用抗生素。
• Antibiotic can be used against infection.抗菌素可以用来防止感染。

2 resistant   

adj.(to)抵抗的，有抵抗力的

参考例句：

• Many pests are resistant to the insecticide.许多害虫对这种杀虫剂有抵抗力。
• They imposed their government by force on the resistant population.他们以武力把自己的统治强加在持反抗态度的人民头上。

3 antibiotics   

n.（用作复数）抗生素；（用作单数）抗生物质的研究；抗生素，抗菌素( antibiotic的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the discovery of antibiotics in the 20th century 20世纪抗生素的发现
• The doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics. 医生给我开了抗生素。

4 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

5 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

6 improper   

adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的

参考例句：

• Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
• Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。

7 bacterial   

a.细菌的

参考例句：

• Bacterial reproduction is accelerated in weightless space. 在失重的空间，细菌繁殖加快了。
• Brain lesions can be caused by bacterial infections. 大脑损伤可能由细菌感染引起。

8 practitioners   

n.习艺者，实习者( practitioner的名词复数 )；从业者（尤指医师）

参考例句：

• one of the greatest practitioners of science fiction 最了不起的科幻小说家之一
• The technique is experimental, but the list of its practitioners is growing. 这种技术是试验性的，但是采用它的人正在增加。 来自辞典例句

9 hygiene   

n.健康法，卫生学 （a.hygienic）

参考例句：

• Their course of study includes elementary hygiene and medical theory.他们的课程包括基础卫生学和医疗知识。
• He's going to give us a lecture on public hygiene.他要给我们作关于公共卫生方面的报告。

10 catastrophe   

n.大灾难，大祸

参考例句：

• I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
• This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。