Overuse Of Antibiotics Detrimental To Life

Antibiotics are supposed to be lifesavers for patients with microbial infections. However, their inappropriate and overuse leads to microbial drug resistance which makes an infection much harder to treat. Today´s rapid rise in infections, caused by drug-resistant bacteria, poses a serious global health concern.

An antibiotic is a chemical compound which inhibits the growth and reproduction of micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi. Antibiotics those act against bacteria are called anti-bacterials and those act against fungi are called anti-fungals. First antibiotic was penicillin, discovered accidentally from a mold culture. Today, over 100 different antibiotics are available to cure simple to life-threatening infections. Yet, several antibiotics are under research by scientists and being designed to fight more effectively against microbial resistance.

Microbes do exist in each and every living being. Not all microbes are pathogenic. There exist some useful microbes as well which save us by invading harmful bacteria and help in proper physiological function. There are more than 500 bacterial species present in the normal human gut and are generally beneficial. They synthesize vitamins such as folic acid, vitamin K and biotin, and they ferment complex indigestible carbohydrates.

Not all antibiotics work against all microbes. Antibiotic treatment varies from infection to infection, and it depends on the type of pathogen that causes the infection. Of note, antibiotics are ineffective against viruses. One has to know that antibiotics are not supposed to use for common colds and flu. In contrary to the myth, these infections are caused by virus, not bacteria. Some people, who are used to the self-medication, use antibiotics liberally for all infections without knowing the parameters.

The ability of a bacterium to synthesize a protein that neutralizes antibiotic is called antibiotic resistance.

Microbes always try to survive developing resistance against the antibiotics. Mutations generally occur in microbes. Some mutations eventually develop resistant genes in them against some drugs. Over usage of antibiotics helps bacteria to gain resistance against them. The more the bacterium is exposed to antibiotics more potent it becomes. If the patient doesn´t complete the given course of antibiotics, only few bacteria will be killed. Rest of them will become strong by multiplying and spread rapidly. They will become resistant to that particular medicine and cause recurrence of illness. When the medicine is given again for that infection, it fails to act against the microbe and can no longer kill the organism. Instead, it destroys the useful bacteria in the body, thus weakening the immune system. A weak immune system leaves the body vulnerable to various infections and dangerous diseases which finally lead to death.

High rate of antibiotic prescribing in hospitals contributes to the emergence of drug resistant bacteria. These bacteria would easily spread among patients, who are already with weakened immunity, through healthcare settings. This results in raising the mortality rate in hospitals due to unsuccessful treatment of diseases. According to CDC (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates, each year, nearly 2 million people in the United States acquire an infection while in a hospital, resulting in 90,000 deaths. More than 70 percent of the bacteria that cause these infections are resistant to at least one of the antibiotics commonly used to treat them.

Micro-organisms that develop resistance against more than one antibiotic are called as multi-drug resistant organisms. One such microbe is Staphylococcus aureus. It is a gram-positive bacterium that is resistant to large group of antibiotics called beta-lactams, which include pencillins and cephalosporins. This is also called as MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) or ´Superbug´. MRSA infections are more prevalent worldwide. According to a study conducted by CDC and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, an antibiotic-resistant strain of the staph bacteria is now responsible for more deaths in the United States than AIDS.

In addition, a widespread usage of antibiotics in food-producing animals and plants also plays major role in rise of drug-resistant bacteria. Since animals also get infected with bacterial infections, vets do prescribe antibiotics for animals. And also in agriculture, antibiotics are being used to combat infectious diseases occurred to plants in fields. To improve the meat safety, ranchers and farmers feed antibiotics to beef, cattle and poultry to control deadly infections. This is a breeding ground for new fatal infections.

Antibiotics use on livestock accounts for roughly half of the 25,000 tons produced in the US each year, according to a report from the Institute of Medicine. It adds that 40 to 80 percent of the antibiotics applied on the farm are unnecessary.

Doctors are running out of effective antibiotics to treat most dangerous infections. Since bacteria gained resistance on almost all antibiotics in the current drug pipeline, CDC officials are urging doctors and patients to use antibiotics appropriately. Pharmaceutical industries are racing to develop highly effective antibiotics. These crazy bugs might gain resistance against them as well. Appropriate usage of antibiotics is the only way to control them.

Bacterial infections are mainly spread through close contact, wound and nasal passage. These infections are more in schools, public gyms, prisons and among sportsmen. Athletes and football players are at increased risk of acquiring bacterial infections. This is due to sharing equipment in their locker rooms like sharing towels, shaving kits, soaps and so on.

Practicing good personal hygiene keeps infections at bay. Regular hand washing, using hand sanitizers and disinfectants, is a best defense against these infections and reduces the need of antibiotics.

David Bell, M.D., the CDC's antimicrobial resistance coordinator, says that physicians are pressurized by patients to prescribe antibiotics. "People don't want to miss work, or they have a sick child who kept the whole family up all night, and they're willing to try anything that might work," says Bell.

Antibiotics are very powerful drugs. Yet, the more we use them, less effective they become. People must try to know pros and cons about usage of antibiotics. This will otherwise lead to a disastrous condition with overwhelming deadly infections. Awareness on appropriate usage of antibiotics is needed for public. Doctors need to prescribe antibiotics with care.

Precautions you should take when on antibiotics:

You should complete the course of antibiotics as directed and prescribed by your doctor, to kill the bacteria completely.

You should not take antibiotics unless you really need them.

You should take your medicines at the same time everyday.

You should always inform your doctor if you feel discomfort in your body, while on antibiotic treatment. In order that your doctor may change the dosage or treatment.

You should not use antibiotics prescribed to someone else. Because, antibiotics are prescribed for a specific illness and the outcome of infection differs from person to person.

You should not take antibiotics for common colds and flu. Because they do not respond to antibiotics.

Self-medication is not appropriate and you should consult doctor and take his advice before taking the medicine.

Don´t ask your doctor to give antibiotics. Not all illnesses require antibiotics.

References:

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

BIOTECHNOLOGY OF ANTIBIOTICS AND OTHER BIOACTIVE MICROBIAL METABOLITES by Giancarlo Lancini, Rolando Lorenzetti

www.cdc.gov

ANTIBIOTICS by Christopher Walsh

www.wikipedia.com