Dangerous, Deadly Superbugs 危险而致命的超级病菌
These germs can resist most anything
大部分药物都杀不死这些细菌
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Alison Lawson endured a long winter a year ago when her daughter Genevieve's ear infection lasted for months without successful treatment. After analyzing Genevieve's ear fluid, her doctor discovered the reason: Genevieve was infected with a superbug that had developed resistance to all child-approved antibiotics.
When antibiotic drugs were first introduced in the 1940s, they revolutionized health care, and illnesses that previously had been life-threatening could be treated with much more success. Unfortunately, in the decades since then, the overuse of antibiotics has led to antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
Antibiotic resistance can develop in different ways. When antibiotics enter the body, they attack bacteria, either destroying them or making them unable to multiply. Any bacteria that successfully resist the antibiotics can then multiply and spread. Bacteria can also become antibiotic-resistant by trading DNA with other germs. When bacteria become immune to several antibiotics, they are called superbugs.
Last year, in Rochester, New York, several children suffered from the same ear infection Alison Lawson's daughter had. The lucky ones, including Genevieve, were successfully treated with an antibiotic approved only for adult use; however, one unlucky child ended up with permanent hearing damage.
爱莉森?洛桑一年前度过了一个漫长的冬天，当时她的女儿吉娜薇的耳朵感染，病况持续数月都没能治癒。医生分析吉娜薇的耳水後，找到了原因：吉娜薇感染了一种超级病菌，该病菌对所有准许儿童使用的抗生素都有抗药性。
抗生素於一九四０年代开始使用时，为医疗保健带来重大变革，过去威胁人命的疾病得以有更有效的治疗结果。不幸的是，之後数十年间，滥用抗生素已导致具抗药性的超级病菌出现。
细菌的抗药性可能会经由几种不同方式产生。抗生素进入人体後，会对细菌发动攻击，把细菌杀死或使细菌无法繁殖。任何细菌只要能抵挡抗生素就能繁殖及散播。细菌也会透过与他种细菌交换去氧核糖核酸而产生抗药性。一旦细菌对多种抗生素免疫，就会被称为超级病菌。
去年，在纽约州罗契斯特市，好几个孩童跟爱莉森?洛桑的女儿一样耳朵受到感染。包括吉娜薇在内的幸运孩童经由成人用抗生素治疗後痊癒，然而，有个孩童的听力却不幸永久受损。
Word Bank
superbug (n)超级病菌
The doctor suspected Irene was infected with a superbug when the medicine he gave her didn't work.
antibiotic (n)抗生素
Jill is taking antibiotics for an ear infection.
resistant (adj)抵抗的
This jacket is water-resistant, so you can wear it when it's raining.
immune (adj)免疫的
A healthy lifestyle, while not able to make one immune to diseases, can help to prevent them.
Chat Room
infect就是感染传染，只能用在可以传染的疾病，不能传染的疾病像癌症不能用infect，我们只能说某人has cancer或is suffering from cancer
infected with：感染后状况，infected by：被……传染，如He is infected with the brid flu.（他感染上禽流感。），但也可说He is infected by a sick bird.（他是被一只生病的鸟所感染的。）
antibiotic
重音在o这个音节
1 The patient was on antibiotics for two weeks.
那位病人用抗生素有两个星期之久。
2 She's taking antibiotic for her nasal infection.
她因为鼻子发炎所以在服用抗生素。
resistant
对某事有抵抗性用to
1 This new kinds of strawberry a resistant to many diseases.
这种新品种的草莓对许多疾病都有抵抗性。
2 heat-resistant
耐热的
3 water-resistant
防水性的
immune
免疫的，不受感染的；不受影响的；对某种疾病不受感染用to
1 She's had chicken pox before so she's immune to it now.
她以前得过水痘，所以现在对水痘免疫了。
2 He's immune to all kinds of criticism.
他已经对各种批评都不受影响了。
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Doctors blame the development of superbugs in part on the misuse of antibiotics. When a child has the flu, a cold, a sore throat or an ear infection, concerned parents often ask for antibiotics to speed their child's recovery. But prescribing antibiotics may not be the best solution: For example, viruses that cause the flu and colds don't respond to antibiotics. When antibiotic treatment is necessary, doctors advise taking the entire course ─ not stopping early because one "feels better" ─ so the drugs can have their full effect.
Children aren't the only targets of superbugs. Health care facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes commonly deal with all kinds of infectious diseases, including superbugs. One drug-resistant strain of bacteria, called MRSA, can be spread by contaminated hands and medical equipment. It's reported to have caused approximately 18,500 deaths in 2005 in the United States. Recently, a newer strain of MRSA has been scaring people because it is spreading outside of hospitals in places such as schools, athletic facilities and jails.
Superbugs have the potential to bring medicine back to a time before antibiotics, when doctors couldn't successfully treat many serious diseases. However, by using antibiotics wisely, the general public can join scientists in the challenge to stop them.
医生将超级病菌出现的原因部份归咎於滥用抗生素。小孩得了流感、感冒、喉咙痛或耳朵感染，心急如焚的家长常要求医生开抗生素，让孩子尽快复原，不过开抗生素未必是最好的疗法：例如引发流感与感冒的病毒对抗生素就没有反应。一旦使用抗生素「有」其必要，医生会建议整个疗程都要服用，不要因为病人「觉得好些了」就提早中断服用，才能让药物完全发挥功效。
儿童并非超级病菌的唯一肆虐对象。医疗院所如医院与疗养院常应付各种传染病，其中也包括超级病菌。一种叫做 MRSA＊的抗药性菌种会经由被污染的手和医疗器材向外散播。（＊译注：即抗药性金黄色葡萄球菌。）据称二００五年，这种病菌在全美各地夺走约一万八千五百人的性命。最近 MRSA 有种可怕的新菌株令人闻之色变，它会在医院之外的地方散播，例如学校、运动场所和监狱。
超级病菌很可能会使医学回到抗生素问世前、医生对许多恶疾都束手无策的时代，然而，藉由明智地使用抗生素，社会大众可以和科学家并肩作战，进而阻止超级病菌的危害。
Word Bank
in part (idiom)部分地
This paper was late in part because the information was hard to find.
prescribe (v)开（药方）
The doctor didn't prescribe any medicine for my cold. He told me rest was the best cure.
infectious (adj)传染的
Her laughter is infectious. Once she starts laughing, everybody follows.
approximately (adv)大概
Simon weighs approximately 35 kilograms.
More Information
course (n)疗程
strain (n)（动物、植物、昆虫等的）品种
Chat Room
facility指的是提供特定用途的场所，比如说manufacturing facility（公司的生产线），psychiatric facility（大型医院中的精神课医疗中心）
facilities用复数可以表示设备，设施，有一些度假村会有athletic facilities（运动设施）；还有一种特殊用法the facilities指的是厕所，use the facilities（需要上洗手间）
in part
当副词片语使用，与partly意思相近
1 The failure of this movie was due in part to bad casting.
一部电影不成功部分是因为选角不当。
2 Sean admitted that he was responsible in part of the accident.
Sean承认这场意外自己有部分的责任。
prescribe
开（药方）；建议某种方式或疗法；prescription(n)
1 The doctor prescribed two entire courses of antibiotics for her.
医生替她开了两个完整疗程抗生素的处方。
2 The doctor prescribed rest as the best cure for his cold.
医生开出休息作为他感冒的最佳处方。
infectious
传染的；具有感染力的
1 This flue is highly infectious.
这种流感具有高度的传染性。
2 Even after most symptons are gone a patient may still be infectious.
即使大部分的症状都消失的时候，病患可能仍然具有传染性。
3 an infectious laugh
具有感染力的笑声
