Producers: Tara Yoo, Nicole Lin, and Nakyung Lee
We all know them. The mate who’s got a drawer full of half-finished antibiotics “for emergencies”. The one who self-medicates at the first tick in their throat or casually offers you their leftover pills like it’s no big deal.
In this episode of Bugs & Drugs, join hosts Tara, Lily, and Nicole (our reformed antibiotic hoarder) as they expose Australia’s growing antimicrobial resistance problem. With prescription rates that dwarf most developed nations and millions of unused pills lurking in bathroom cabinets nationwide, we’re fuelling a health crisis that could reshape modern medicine.
Through candid admissions, eye-opening revelations, and expert insights from Dr. Kelvin Goh (Griffith University’s antibiotic resistance specialist) and Professor Mark Blaskovich (University of Queensland’s leading expert in antimicrobial resistance), discover why seemingly innocent medication habits are accelerating the rise of drug-resistant superbugs.
Explore what really happens when you cut your course short, why your doctor might be prescribing antibiotics that won’t actually help, and the surprising ways antibiotics devastate your microbiome. With mortality projections that rival cancer deaths and gut disruptions lasting up to a year, this 15-minute episode delivers crucial health information without losing its sense of humour.
Whether you’re guilty of antibiotic misuse or just curious about the superbugs making headlines, this episode delivers essential health information you can actually use. You’ll learn the right questions to ask your doctor, how to safely dispose of unused medications, and why “stronger” antibiotics aren’t always better.
Don’t be that friend. Listen now.