A Denver Post story about the recent death of a woman whose life was saved by penicillin as a girl serves as a reminder that in the not very distant past society did not have antibiotics.
Genean Hixon became known as the "Penicillin Girl" in the 1940s when, at the age of 12, she was one of the first American civilians to be treated with what was called a "mysterious miracle drug."
Before penicillin, a simple infection could lead to a painful death.
It took more than a decade before the antibiotic, first discovered in 1928, could be produced in large enough quantities to treat a human.
At first it was reserved for those injured in World War II, but as scientists discovered how to make more of it, penicillin became commonly used and baby boomers and their parents benefited from it.
Eventually, other antibiotics were developed as well, creating options for those who were allergic to penicillin.
But now antibiotics have infiltrated our world and overuse has become a problem.
They're overprescribed for people who have viral, not bacterial infections.
They're widely used to fatten cattle. The Food and Drug Administration says about 80 percent of all antibiotics used in the United States go to livestock.
Overuse also has led to a rise in antibiotic-resistant superbugs that now kill an estimated 23,000 people a year.
A new book by New York University professor Dr. Martin Blaser, "Missing Microbes," says studies are now starting to indicate that the overexposure to antibiotics in our food supply is making us fatter.
He started with a simple premise: if antibiotics are used to fatten cattle they might be doing the same to humans. Studies on mice showed antibiotics fatten them too, and studies on human children are beginning to show the same.
His book also looks at how antibiotics may have led to a rise in allergies, asthma, diabetes and some cancers.
As Genean Hixon's story showed, antibiotics really do play an important role in saving lives.
Now society must figure out how to use them judiciously.