In the zeal1（热情，热心） to eliminate dangerous bacteria, it is possible that we are also permanently2 killing3 off beneficial bacteria as well, posits4（假定） Martin Blaser, MD, Frederick H. King Professor of Medicine, professor of Microbiology and chair of the Department of Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center. His commentary is published in the August 25 edition of the journal Nature.
Dr. Blaser sounded the alarm to the medical community and to the general public, that the widespread use of antibiotics6 may be having unintended consequences causing permanent changes in the body's protective, friendly flora7（植物群） and causing harm to the body's natural defense8 system. This may be even more dangerous to health than the creation of resistant9 "superbugs," which have garnered10 much attention over the last few years.
By the time a child in the US or other developed countries reaches the age of 18, s/he has already had on average 10-20 doses of antibiotics. These are in addition to the antibiotics that may be given to women while they are pregnant, and which may affect the normal bacteria that mothers transmit to their children.
The discovery and use of antibiotics has helped to increase life expectancy11. However they are non-discriminatory（有辨识力的） and destroy even friendly bacteria, not just harmful ones. Scientists have found that some of the beneficial bacteria may never recover and that these extinctions may lead to increased susceptibility to infections and disease. As a result, antibiotic5 use could be contributing to the increases in obesity12, allergies13 and asthma14（哮喘） , inflammatory bowel15 disease, and type 1 diabetes16 that are occurring throughout the developed world.
Dr. Blaser urges physicians to curtail17（缩减） the use of these drugs immediately, and recommends that narrow spectrum18, and more targeted drugs be used in their place. To be successful, this shift will require a significant effort to develop new antibacterials and new diagnostic tests that will permit the use of targeted agents.
"I believe that doctors of the future will be replacing "lost" members of our normal flora in young children to diminish the risk of development of these important and chronic19 diseases," said Dr. Blaser.
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