The discovery of penicillin instantly removed all global anxiety regarding bacterial diseases.
The pharmaceutical industry prioritizes antibiotic development because it is highly profitable.
Familiarize yourself with key terms that frequently appear in IELTS reading passages about antibiotic resistance:
This article explores the mechanisms behind this crisis, its driving forces, the global implications, and the strategies required to avert a post-antibiotic era, structured to mirror the analytical and comprehensive style found in IELTS Reading passages. The Mechanism of Resistance: A Darwinian Race The discovery of penicillin instantly removed all global
Explanation: Paragraph G directly states that antibiotic development "yields low profit margins compared to chronic disease medications" and lacks financial incentive. Reading Questions 11–13 (Summary Completion)
When penicillin became widely available during the Second World War, it was a medical miracle, rapidly vanquishing the biggest wartime killer – infected wounds. Discovered initially by a French medical student, Ernest Duchesne, in 1896, and then rediscovered by Scottish physician Alexander Fleming in 1928, Penicillium crippled many types of disease-causing bacteria. But just four years after drug companies began mass-producing penicillin in 1943, microbes began appearing that could resist it.
According to the World Health Organization's Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report 2025, resistance levels are alarmingly high and unevenly distributed worldwide. Between 2018 and 2023, antibiotic resistance rose in over 40% of the pathogen-antibiotic combinations monitored, with an average annual increase of 5-15%. The WHO estimates that roughly one in six bacterial infections worldwide involves antibiotic-resistant pathogens, rising to one in three for urinary tract infections. The Mechanism of Resistance: A Darwinian Race Explanation:
Explanation: Paragraph E describes the cellular adaptations of bacteria, including efflux pumps, thickened walls, and horizontal gene transfer.
Paragraph C specifies that many patients discontinue their medication course "prematurely once their immediate symptoms subside." 10. resilient
The overuse of antibiotics in livestock farming is a major concern. Animals are kept in dense, 11. ____________ conditions, where drugs are used to promote growth and prevent illness. Resistant bacteria then enter the 12. ____________ through contaminated food products or agricultural runoff. To combat this, the global community must adopt the 13. ____________ strategy, which unifies human, animal, and environmental interventions. Verified Answers and Explanations Reading Questions 1–6 (Headings) But just four years after drug companies began
Paragraph C explicitly states that patients "discontinue their medication course prematurely," which allows the "most resilient bacteria to multiply."
Paragraph F states that the pipeline for novel antibiotics is stagnant because they "offer low profit margins for manufacturers compared to chronic disease medications," meaning chronic disease drugs are more lucrative. If you are preparing for your exam, tell me:
: Resistance is a natural process, not just a man-made error. The Power of Hygiene
A mention of the financial consequences of failing to address antimicrobial resistance.