– Dr. Ajai Kumar Sonkar
For decades, antibiotics have been hailed as one of the greatest medical advancements in human history. They have saved millions of lives by targeting bacterial infections swiftly and effectively. However, recent scientific discoveries demand that we pause and rethink our relationship with these powerful drugs — not because antibiotics are inherently harmful, but because their unselective use is damaging something far more fundamental than we once imagined.
Until recently, it was believed that the bacteria in our bodies outnumbered human cells by 10 to 1. That figure has now been revised. Current research reveals that we host approximately 30 to 40 trillion bacteria — roughly the same number as our human cells. This discovery reshapes our understanding of the human body. We are not simply human; we are ecosystems. The trillions of bacteria that inhabit our gut, skin, mouth, and other surfaces are not intruders — they are cobuilders of our biology.
Long before the rise of hospitals, pharmaceutical industries, or synthetic medicines, human beings survived — not only survived but thrived — in the raw lap of nature. In the dense forests, surrounded by living soil, flowing water, fresh air, and nourishing sunlight, we were in constant communion with natural microbial life. There were no antibiotics, no surgical interventions, no vaccines — and yet, life progressed. From primitive life spans of just a few days or weeks, we evolved into organisms capable of living for a hundred years. Our partnership with the microbial world was not incidental; it was foundational to our longevity and resilience.
These microbes play essential roles. They digest food, synthesize vitamins, regulate immune responses, and protect us from harmful invaders. They are not just passengers; they are engineers maintaining the health of the system. When antibiotics are used without discretion, they often destroy these essential bacterial populations alongside the targeted pathogens. It’s like using fire to chase away a mosquito — you lose the house along with the pest.
To understand the danger of this indiscriminate destruction, imagine the tragic stampede that took place during the Mahakumbh, where dozens of innocent lives were lost. Panic, overcrowding, and mismanagement triggered chaos. If, in a twisted attempt to prevent the stampede, we had asked antibiotics for a solution, their logic would be simple but horrifying: “Eliminate everyone involved — those knowingly or unknowingly part of the crowd dynamic — before the stampede occurs.” This is exactly how many antibiotics operate. They do not distinguish between the harmful and the helpful, the culprit and the innocent. They target the “crowd” rather than the real offender — resulting in collateral damage that destabilizes the entire biological system.
This leads us to the concept of dysbiosis — the disruption of the natural microbial balance. When beneficial bacteria are killed, harmful ones can take their place. Opportunistic pathogens like Clostridioides difficile flourish in these conditions, leading to severe illness. Beyond immediate infections, the long-term effects of microbiome damage are becoming increasingly apparent — including links to autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, and even mental health challenges.
As a researcher studying microbial ecosystems and their role in human and environmental health, I see this issue as a silent crisis. The use of antibiotics should be guided by precision, not panic. Instead of “blind antibiotics” that kill everything in their path, we need targeted approaches that preserve the beneficial microbial community. In fact, nature already offers an elegant alternative — bacteriophages, the viruses that infect and kill specific bacteria without disturbing others. These naturally occurring allies, some of which I have studied in the sacred waters of the Ganges, show promise in treating even antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
In conclusion, antibiotics are not the enemy — ignorance is. Using antibiotics thoughtfully, supported by diagnostic testing and a deeper understanding of the human microbiome, is no longer a choice but a necessity. Our microbial partners are not disposable. They are as vital to our survival as our own cells. The war on bacteria must evolve into a dialogue — one that honors balance, precision, and the hidden intelligence of life itself. Our long-standing alliance with nature’s microbial world helped us live, adapt, and flourish — and it may yet hold the key to our future health and survival.