Dr. Matt McCarthy discusses his book Superbugs: The Race to Stop an Epidemic. (6/11/19)

In his new book “Superbugs: The Race to Stop an Epidemic,” Dr. Matt McCarthy explores the history of bacteria and antibiotics, from Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin, to obscure sources of innovative new medicines to the cutting-edge DNA manipulation known as CRISPR, bringing to light how we arrived at this juncture of both incredible breakthrough and extreme vulnerability. His professional life as a physician, researcher and ethics professor has put Dr. Matt McCarthy is on the front lines of a groundbreaking clinical trial testing a new antibiotic to fight lethal superbugs, bacteria that have built up resistance to the life-saving drugs in our rapidly dwindling arsenal. Join us for a conversation with Dr. Matt McCarthy about this critical issue in this installment of “Leonard Lopate at Large” on WBAI.