There’s another factor: as a society, we’ve forgotten about aseptis and antisepsis. Hospitals are kept cosmetically clean, but too often neglect such simple precautions as changing bedding and sanitizing mattresses between patients. Doctors, nurses and ward workers fail to wash their hands between patients. Individuals fail to use antiseptic on “minor” wounds, don’t wash their hands before handling food and cutlery, avoid immunization, and fail to take simple precautions against the spread of infection.
Pre-antibiotic, say to the mid-1950s, there was a general awareness that bacteria caused infection, disease and death, not only from wounds and communicable disease, but also from routine food preparation and home canning. As we have become accustomed to defeating infection with a pill or a shot, and with using foods part-prepared by others, we have systematically made ourselves more vulnerable.
As Fleming predicted, we’re paying the price.
