Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics Is Fueling Our Modern Plagues

This book has good chapters on various aspects of gut biome issues and antibiotics. The author gives clear explanations and has extensive expertise in the field.One thing that is slightly misleading, though the major issues are covered in a general manner a lot of the specifics are focussed on Helicobacter Pylori, which is a stomach centered bacteria rather than something from lower down. I was expecting more coverage of the range of bacteria in the intestinal biome. This in no way detracts from the quality of the book as a some of the issues with H. Pylori seems to be those of the general intestinal biome also.Overall there is quite a wide and big picture view as well as the focus on H Pylori case studies. For example the author mentions work on Caesarian birth innoculation and other clean hypothesis issues. The case studies themselves are presented in a good scientific manner with descriptions of the protocols and evidence for the findings. Also this book made me want to go work with Dr. Blaser on studies like the one he described. Important work.

Dr. Blazer makes a convincing case that the over use of antibiotics may have the unintended effect of killing off essential bacteria in the human gut contributing to the contracting of chronic diseases by children such as diabetes, asthma, allergies, autism, obesity, etc. In later life celiac disease, colitis, Chrones disease, various cancers, etc.I would especially recommend it to young adults contemplating marriage and parenthood as a general knowledge background needed to make informed decisions regarding the preparation for pregnancy, actual pregnancy, whether to have elective c-section, and whether to consent to the giving of antibiotics to their babies, toddlers and older children.The general use of antibiotics in the raising and husbandry of various livestock is also addressed, affecting us by way of meat, eggs, dairy products and water.A very interesting book, made me curious as to further discoveries since the book was published in 2014.

Very well written book and presents some very convincing arguments why overuse of antibiotics can cause some serious and unintended consequences well beyond antibiotic resistant organisms. The only complaint is the author (clearly an experts on bacteria) tends to correlate many things to antibiotic usage. It's like the old phrase to the man with a hammer, everything appears as a nail. I get the sense of that here. It could turn out in the end he's correct and to his credit he mentions his peers not necessarily agreeing with some of his contentions.In the end, the main argument of his book is likely valid. The homeostatic relationship with man and billions of bacterium took millions of years to be established. Antibiotics are fantastic when dealing with a destructive organism, but in the process there is major collateral damage to beneficial bacteria associated our overall health, including, but not limited to intestinal flora. Over the next decades we will witness, on a very large scale, what the impact to humans will be. Could it be the underlying cause of obesity, food allergies, etc.? Only time will tell.

I just closed this book and I felt the need to immediately review it. As a student microbiologist, chemist, and current medical worker, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Dr. Blaser lays out the complexity and wonder of the microscopic world in a way that's fathomable to a general audience. He approaches the dense subject matter of the (human) microbiome in a gentle, laid back yet informative manner, making this book a relatively simple read for even those with little to no scientific background. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know, especially those working in the medical, or any science driven, field (as well as any politician I may come across, ha!) Even if you know nothing about microbiology, and your last science class was in high school, I urge you to read this informative masterpiece. I cannot overstate the urgency of this topic, and I believe this book can provide anyone with a perfect segue into the crisis of the overuse of antibiotics (or the rise of "superbugs", if that catches your attention more.)This is now one of my favorite books! Give it a try!

Dr. Blaster has done an excellent job on this topic. It is a very easy read but extremely informative and important.

Todo el mundo especialmente los medicuchos sabelotodo que tenemos hoy en dia que realmente no saben absolutamente nada deberian leerlo. Por supuesto tambien pacientes y cualquier persona pues nos afecta a todos y a diario.

Un livre à mettre au programme des études de médecine. Écrit par un médecin formé à la culture de l'allopathie la plus classique, ce livre décrit le questionnement de Martin Blazer sur la hausse exponentielle des maladies chroniques et de l'obésité. Et les réponses qu'il apporte, faits scientifiques à l'appui, en font un réquisitoire implacable contre l'usage actuel des antibiotiques. Et un cri d'alarme conte l'appauvrissement du microbiote intestinal. Indispensable.

ピロリ菌研究の第一人者による抗生物質の濫用の危険に対する告発の書である。抗生物質の濫用の危険については、最近数多くの書籍が英語圏を中心に出版されており、幼児や子供に多発する難病の多くが、抗生物質の濫用に起因しているらしいことが明らかになってきている。この本の特徴は、あの悪魔の最近「ピロリ菌」でさえ、「益虫？」であることを詳しく説明している。ピロリ菌は、数十万年の長きにわたり人類とともに共生してきた伴侶であり、自らの生存を確保するためではあるが、喉周辺から食道および胃等の免疫機構の健全性（アレルギーやガンの防止）を確保するために日夜頑張っているのです。ただ、成人のある種の状態の人々にとっては、胃がんの可能性を高めるというリスクがあります。したがって、除菌の必要のあるのは、成人でそれ相応の状態にある人だけであって、幼児や子供に除菌を適用するのは、百害あって一利もなく、特に低年齢の場合は、一生を台無しにするリスクさえあるというのがこの本の最も重要な主張です。まして、その他の有益な常在悪玉菌やただの風邪（ウイルス性疾患）に対して、抗生物質を使うなんて、問題外の外ということですね（抗生物質は細胞膜の生理作用を阻害するものですから、細胞膜のないウイルスには全く効き目がないことはご存知ですよね）。風邪なら、マヌカハニー（MGO１００程度で十分）が効きますよ！ただし、２歳以下の幼児は、絶対にダメですよ。ボツリヌス菌のリスクがあります。　本書は、抗生剤天国、日本の皆様への警告の書であり、子育て中の若い母親の方々にぜひ読んでいただきたい良書である。なお、英文は、明快で、表現もわかりやすく、単語も一般的なものばかりで、専門用語は全部で１０種類程度で全体として、大変読みやすい。

Exelente. Llego rápido y en perfectas condiciones. El libro tiene un maravilloso contenido referente a las nuevas plagas de nuestra era que nos afligen debido al uso inadecuado o a una temprana edad de los antibióticos. Muy recomendable.