There is increasing concern about the lack of antibiotics in the research pipeline with more “superbugs” – resistant to many antibiotics – being discovered and many bacteria and viruses jumping from their original hosts to man.

Many countries – Australia included – are looking more closely at how antibiotics are used and also ensuring good hand hygiene – washing hands – between examining patients (doctors are the worst). When implemented in Australia this led to a decrease in the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemia.

Just as important is the research carried on by non profit groups and government research. Australia is one of the world leaders with the worlds most advanced biosecure laboratory. The Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong can research these new threats such as Hendra virus hopefully leading to new antibiotics (for bacteria) and new vaccines.