‘Must I take all my antibiotics?’ Why infectious disease experts are rethinking this longstanding rule

the gist

For decades doctors told patients to finish every antibiotic pill, partly because stopping early was thought to breed resistant bacteria. The evidence does not support that idea: relapses after short courses usually come from reinfection or from drug not reaching the infection, not from resistant bacteria. Strep throat, for example, has never developed penicillin resistance even after decades of use. Antibiotic resistance is driven by exposure itself, since each extra day of treatment disrupts gut and other bacteria and gives resistant strains an advantage. Trials across bladder infections, pneumonia and bloodstream infections have shown that shorter courses often work as well as longer ones. The best approach is the shortest course proven to cure a specific infection, with the length set by a clinician.

how it works

Antibiotics kill susceptible bacteria, but they also reduce the bacteria living in the gut and elsewhere. Resistant bacteria that survive gain room to grow, so each additional day of treatment increases the selection pressure. A shorter course reduces that pressure while still clearing the infection, if the dose is enough and the drug reaches the infected tissue.

so what

Because antibiotic resistance is driven by overuse, the key message shifts from finishing every pill to avoiding unnecessary prescriptions. A 2025 review of 412 studies found that about a third of antibiotic prescriptions worldwide are inappropriate. Clear communication is needed so that changing the advice does not erode trust in public health.

Illustrative photo · CDC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

source: The Conversation ↗

historyWikipediaclassic1336–1565 · Karnataka, India

Hampi was once one of the world's largest cities, until its Vijayanagara capital was destroyed in 1565

the gist

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.

how it works

The city was built around a fortified core with temples, markets and water structures along the river, supplied by an extensive network of roads and waterworks. When the empire fell, the city was not rebuilt, so its stone monuments were left standing.

so what

Hampi shows how quickly a great city can vanish after a military defeat, and how a ruined capital can remain sacred. Its ruins give historians a view of medieval South Asia that few other sites can match.

fun fact

The name Hampi comes from Pampa, an old name for the Tungabhadra River.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

2 min

politicsshortCNA2:01

False allegations about Singapore’s hand in Indonesia’s markets and a made-up meeting

from CNA

CNA Verify has found close to 400 posts pushing falsehoods tying Singapore to Indonesia’s stock market rout and to a secret meeting that never took place. Together, they drew nearly 12 million views, and some were circulated by accounts that appeared to be working in concert, across multiple social media platforms.

Here’s how the disinformation campaign targeting Singapore was uncovered.

on YouTube: CNA ↗