Antibiotics are great! They save lives, prevent disease, and help us live longer. They’ve also given birth to antibiotic resistance in humans. We’ve become so dependent on these drugs that they’ve created resistant bacterial strains. This means that the antibiotics are not as effective as they were in the past.
In fact, antibiotic resistant bacteria have become a global crisis. It’s not just a problem in developing countries anymore. It’s a problem everywhere. According to CDC. there are now more than 2.8 million antibiotic resistant infections that occur in the United States every year.
Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat to our health and well-being. In this article, we will try to understand what we can do about it.
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What is Antibiotic Resistance?
Antibiotics are powerful drugs used to treat bacterial infections. They kill bacteria without harming human cells. Antibiotics are one of the most effective tools available to fight infection. However, overuse of these drugs has led to the development of drug resistant bacteria.
In fact, there are now strains of bacteria that cannot be treated with any known antibiotics. This situation is called “antibiotic resistance.”
What Causes Antibiotic Resistance?
Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria become immune to the effects of an antibiotic therapy. Bacteria develop resistance by modifying their genetic material, such as DNA or RNA. These changes allow the bacteria to survive exposure to the antibiotic.
Overuse of antibiotics has contributed to the rise of antibiotic resistance. People often use antibiotics unnecessarily, especially for viral infections. For example, antibiotics are commonly prescribed for colds and flu.
When antibiotics are used inappropriately, bacteria may develop resistance to the antibiotic. Once the bacteria become resistant to the antibiotic, it becomes ineffective against the bacteria.
What Can Be Done About It?
There are several things we can do to prevent antibiotic resistance.
1. Reduce Overprescribing
Doctors need to take steps to reduce the amount of unnecessary antibiotics they prescribe. One way to do this is to ask patients about their symptoms before prescribing them antibiotics.
For example, if a person complains of a sore throat, a doctor could instead suggest a pain reliever rather than an antibiotic.
Doctors should also consider the type of illness being treated. A cold typically does not require antibiotics. However, a fever caused by a viral infection requires treatment with an antibiotic.
Doctors also need to educate themselves about the difference between viral and bacterial illnesses. Viral illnesses usually resolve within a week, but bacterial infections can last longer.
2. Improve Hygiene Practices
People should practice good hygiene to avoid spreading germs. Poor hygiene practices include sharing personal items like razors and toothbrushes among multiple people.
Washing hands with soap and hot water is best because it kills germs on the surface of the skin.
Washing hands with soap and hot water is best because it kills germs on the surface of the skin.
If soap and hot water aren’t available, rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer can be used. Alcohol dries out the skin and kills germs on contact.
Hand sanitizers contain chemicals that kill germs on contact. Hand sanitizers work well in places where soap and hot water are not available.
3. Properly Use Medications
Some medications are more likely to cause antibiotic resistance than others. The following list describes the types of medications that have been associated with resistance to antibiotics:
– Cephalosporins (cefazolin, cephalexin)
– Fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin, moxifloxacin)
– Penicillins (amoxicillin, ampicillin)
– Tetracyclines (tetracycline)
4. Preserve Antibiotics
Antibiotic resistance won’t go away overnight. We must continue to preserve our existing antibiotics while developing new ones.
Preserving antibiotics involves taking measures to ensure that these drugs are still effective when needed.
One way to preserve antibiotics is to make sure they’re stored properly. Antibiotics should be kept cool and dry.
They should also be stored away from sunlight and other sources of heat.
5. Consumption of Meat and Antibiotics Laced Produce
Meat products often come from animals that were given antibiotics. This makes meat products potentially contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
This problem is particularly concerning because meat products are commonly consumed raw. Raw meat contains many harmful microbes.
When buying meat, consumers should look for labels that indicate whether the animal was raised without antibiotics.
6. Avoid Self-Medication of Antibiotics
Many people take antibiotics for colds and flu without consulting a doctor first.
Taking antibiotics without a prescription may lead to antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotic treatments are not always effective against viruses, such as the common cold or influenza. However, there is evidence of people resorting to over-the-counter antibiotics to treat themselves or their children for common colds.
In conclusion, if you use antibiotics regularly, you may be contributing to the rise of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics are powerful drugs that have saved millions of lives, but their overuse has led to drug-resistant bacteria becoming increasingly common. This means that when you take antibiotics, you could actually be doing harm rather than helping yourself. To avoid this problem, it’s important to only use antibiotics when necessary and always finish the full course of treatment. Start depending on natural remedies to combat antibiotic resistance.
source: CDC