The Silent Threat: Rise Of Superbug (Part 2)

A SILENT THREAT

The world is still catching its breath after the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the coronavirus. But behind the scenes, a far more silent threat is looming—superbugs.

Drug-resistant microbes rarely make headlines, but they’re quietly evolving — and could spark a health crisis worse than any viral pandemic.

TUBERCULOSIS

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs. It is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, an acid-fast, rod-shaped bacterium. Common clinical symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Persistent cough lasting more than three weeks

TUBERCULOSIS IS ALARMING

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health concern. An estimated 2 billion people worldwide carry latent TB, a non-infectious form of the disease, while approximately 10 million people suffer from active TB, which is infectious. Despite being both preventable and curable, TB causes around 1.5 million deaths annually.
(Source: World Health Organization, Tuberculosis Fact Sheet, 2025)

WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?

This is due to multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB), which is resistant to Isoniazid and Rifampicin.

These two antibiotics are among the most powerful first-line anti-TB medications, making MDR-TB a significant public health concern.

WHAT CAUSES MULTIDRUG RESISTANCE?

Multidrug resistance develops due to:

• Misuse of antibiotics
• Overuse of antibiotics
• Naturally occurring biological and evolutionary phenomena

WHAT WE CAN DO?

Although antibiotic resistance occurs naturally, human actions can strongly influence its spread. We can help slow resistance by:

• Using antibiotics only when they are medically necessary, as viral infections such as flu and colds do not respond to antibiotics.
• Supporting responsible antibiotic use in agriculture and livestock farming.
• Practicing good hygiene to reduce the spread of infections.
• Getting recommended vaccinations, including TB vaccines.

The article is prepared by Biorism Scientist, Dr. Woon JJ, (PhD in Microbiology).