Antibiotics were once thought to be wonder drugs with the ability to eradicate many diseases including pneumonia, ear infections and diarrhea. Unfortunately the wonder drugs of yesteryear no longer have the same effect as they once did. Many bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics and much of it can be blamed on the inappropriate use of antibiotics.
Bacteria have the ability to spread rapidly and replicate quickly, but they have the ability to adapt to their surroundings through genetic mutation. They learn to adapt in the presence of antibiotic drugs. The weaker bacteria die off leaving the strongest ones to survive and become dominant. In order to treat these new strains it becomes necessary to use stronger drugs that are both toxic and expensive. The reckless use of antibiotics is the leading factor of the bacteria's ability to adapt. To insure proper use of antibiotics, the following points must be considered:
Inappropriate Use
Antibiotics are often prescribed to treat diseases for which they are ineffective. Non-bacterial illnesses such as the common cold, flu, sore throats and most ear infections cannot be treated with antibiotics as they are caused by viruses and not by bacteria. Antibiotics are widely prescribed to treat sinus infections, but according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association of December 5, 2007, it was found that antibiotics were ineffective at treating sinus infections.
Ignorance
Patient demand puts pressure on the doctor to prescribe antibiotics even though they are ineffective for what ails the patient. The doctor may not have a thorough grounding of the right use for antibiotics and even a misdiagnosis can steer a doctor to write a prescription for antibiotics. Many doctors simply write prescriptions to “play it safe”. Unfortunately, when it comes to a bacterial infection, frequent follow-ups are necessary. That isn't always easy to do for a busy doctor.
Misuse
Failure to adhere to the right dosage leads to the growth of drug-resistant strains. Many people simply overuse antibiotics for what they were not meant to address such as curing a headache or the flu..
Environment
Antibiotics are often added to agricultural feed and to the animals themselves to keep them disease free. Unfortunately, those antibiotic injected animals find their way into the food chain. As they are consumed, the bacteria learn to adapt and create further health related problems.
Hospitals make a great breeding ground for many viruses and bacteria to flourish. They easily spread from patient to patient through the air and through contact. Nurses and doctors may forget to wash hands or discard gloves after treating patients. To combat the spread of diseases, antibiotics are widely used in hospitals. Unfortunately, this does not always help.
Lack of Hygiene
It is one of the most crucial factors that can prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria. Unfortunately, many people are not well schooled in cleanliness. Children should be taught the importance of washing hands and keeping their fingers away from their mouths and noses. Such things as sneezing and coughing in public without some protection can spread viruses that can lead to a pandemic much like that seem in 1918 with the Spanish Flu.
These are some of the important factors that lead to new drug-resistant strains of bacteria. Tuberculosis, gonorrhea and methicilin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are a common occurrence, but not easy to address. Currently, Vancomycin and daphtomycin are two drugs that must be given intravenously while a third, Linezolid is prescribed orally to keep bacteria in check. But these drugs may well become ineffective in the near future.
Education is a major key in the proper use of antibiotics and in prevention. There is no drug that can replace good hygiene practices. To avoid the growth of ever increasing and dangerous strains of bacteria demands nothing less than taking the right action to insure a safe and healthy society.
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