PIP: This article presents a commentary on ubiquitous pathogens by Judith Randal. As the millennium approaches, diseases like smallpox, polio, malaria, and dengue seem to be on their way out; however, the effectiveness of antibiotics is waning. The reason that they are losing their clout is that the more they are used, the fewer germs are susceptible to them. Thus, sooner or later every antibiotic becomes the victim of its own success. Causes for the increased threat of infectious illnesses include overpopulation and the environmental impact of such practices as deforestation and logging. Unfortunately, according to Dr. Donald Henderson, the prevalence of infectious diseases has accelerated the most in countries whose governments cannot afford to tackle lack of sanitation, overcrowding, dearth of clean water, and other infection-friendly conditions that beset the burgeoning numbers of their urban poor. In addition, the enormous increase in international travel, the expansion of commerce, the introduction of new technologies, and changes in the weather are contributing to the increase of infectious illnesses.