system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Is the threat of bacteria becoming fully resistant to antibiotics real? 

What are the ramifications of this if it were to happen?
What are solutions?
gpt
Yes

While the vast majority of bacteria are resistant to some form of antibiotic there are some strains that are being selected that are extremely resistant or completely resistant.  For example, Acinetobacter is a particularly viscous bug that tends to colonize burn patients and runs rampant in burn ICU's.  This bacteria is probably the best example of a microbe that is forming resistance to all antibiotics and is not uncommon in hospitals.  In the case of these patients we try combinations of less typical antibiotics in a last ditch effort to treat such infections.  Things like colistin and rifampin are combined and while they may not be effective to eliminate the bacteria on their own they may combine in a synergistic effect.  Other times they may provide enough of an effect to just prevent the bacteria from expanding in the body and allow the body to work to kill the bacteria itself.  

On of the downsides of this is that while it may prevent death there are lots of side effects as a result of the inflammation from this damages the tissue surrounding.  I've had burn patients with Acinetobacter pneumonia after a burn that we managed to get through the infection despite it being fully resistant but as a result they developed pulmonary fibrosis and have very poor lung function.  

Other bacterial like Staph. Aureus (MRSA)  have variable resistance patterns and is slowly and progressiveness becoming resistant to antibiotics due to selection.  Better education of patients and knowledge of the importance of taking a full course of antibiotics to prevent formation of resistant strains is helping to slow the progression.