“If we use antibiotics when not needed, we may not have them
when they are most needed (1).” This is a quote from Tom Friedman, the director
for the CDC (center for disease control) from the year 2009 to 2017. There are
many people who think that they need antibiotics every time they get sick or
begin to feel a little “under the weather”. Antibiotics are likely the
comfortable choice of treatment given that they are safe (when used correctly) leading
patients to be more agreeable to take a prescribed antibiotic rather than an
unfamiliar therapeutic. Although antibiotics are viewed by many as the automatic,
first line of treatment whenever they become ill, this is not always the best
option. Taking antibiotics unnecessarily contributes to our rising antibiotic
resistance crisis. Ceasing the overuse and misuse of antibiotics is paramount
in fighting this crisis.
What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics
are a type of medication that should be taken when a patient has a bacterial
infection. Some examples of bacterial infections include strep throat and
urinary tract infections (commonly referred to as “UTI’s”). They function by
either killing the bacteria or by making it really difficult for bacteria to
grow and reproduce. This medication can be given orally (in the form of a pill,
capsule, or liquid), through injection via an IV (intravenously), or as a
cream, spray, or ointment (2).
What’s the big deal?
When
antibiotics are taken incorrectly several problems can occur. Contrary to common belief, an antibiotic will
not treat an illness caused by a virus or fungus. This means that taking an
antibiotic, when you have an illness caused by a virus or fungus, is completely
unnecessary and it will not treat that illness. Whenever someone takes an
antibiotic unnecessarily, they are contributing to the possibility of creating
antibiotic resistant bacteria within their body. Another problem that occurs
when using antibiotics incorrectly or unnecessarily is that of a person taking
too low of a dose. This often contributes to bacterial resistance to said
antibiotic in the bacteria that are not killed because the dose was
insufficient. Antibiotic resistance is
also an outcome that occurs naturally (without misuse of antibiotics) in
bacteria, and other microorganisms such as parasites, viruses, and fungi. The
natural process of antibiotic resistance can occur when bacteria experience
genetic changes and therefore are no longer affected by the presence of certain
(or sometimes all) antibiotics (1).
Using the previous example to illustrate, when
bacteria are exposed to an antibiotic in a low enough dose that not all the
bacteria will be killed, the bacteria who survive build-up an “immunity” to
that medication in the similar way that people develop an immunity to diseases
when they are exposed. These bacteria who gained “immunity” or resistance
against the antibiotic they were exposed to go on to reproduce and create more
bacteria that are resistant to that same antibiotic (1). Whenever there are bacteria that are produced
that are resistant to all of the known antibiotics, they can then be classified
as a superbug (which are extremely difficult to treat given that they do not
respond to the regular antibiotics; (1).
What can you do?
In the
fight against antibiotic resistance, it is very important that everybody does
their part. This may look different depending on who you are and what you do
for a living, but every little bit counts. One of the most necessary modes of
action everyone can enforce is to finish the entire round of antibiotics that
your provider has prescribed to you. This means that you cannot stop taking
your medication simply because you “feel better”, which is a common mistake
that people make. It is also important to only take antibiotics that are
prescribed for your specific case. For example, not all antibiotics are created
equally, some may not be strong enough for one type of bacterial infection
however, another antibiotic may be too strong for your specific bacterial
infection, and this could result in the death of healthy bacteria. If too many
healthy bacteria are killed, a patient can experience a second infection with a
bacteria known as C. diff (Clostridioides difficle), which causes extreme
diarrhea and colon damage that can result in death if left untreated (2). So,
the next time you feel the urge to not finish your antibiotic prescription or
to take some antibiotics that you had “leftover,” consult a medical professional
to ensure you have accurate and sufficient treatment.
References
(1) Gautam, A. (2022, February
15). Antimicrobial resistance: The next probable pandemic. JNMA; journal
of the Nepal Medical Association. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35210634/.
(2) U.S. National Library of
Medicine. (n.d.). Antibiotics. Medline Plus
Holly,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog post about antibiotic use and the resistance crisis. I appreciated how it aligned with the subject matter we discussed in class with Dr. Hadley recently. I did not realize the impact each individual had in the growing resistance crisis, including prescribing physicians, pharmacists, parents, and patients. Growing up I had an experience taking liquid amoxicillin and started to feel better nearing the end of the prescribed quantity, and I used to argue with my parents that I did not need to continue taking the medicine when I started feeling less sick. With a better understanding of the contribution that can make towards antibiotic resistance, I now know why I was instructed to finish the prescribed amount. I particularly liked the quote used in the introduction paragraph that stated "If we use antibiotics when they are not needed, we may not have them when they are most needed." I worked for a dentist who would have to prescribe antibiotics for dental related infections, teeth, gums, etc. I noticed how intentional he seemed to be while diagnosing based on symptoms, how attentive he was of their previous health history with antibiotics, give instructions that meet patient understanding and how he would suggest other therapeutics when antibiotics were unnecessary. I now understand, just how important that was in preventing a contribution to antibiotic resistance. I enjoyed your blog post and found that it summarized the topic in an informative and applicative manner with intentions to educate readers on how they can prevent antibiotic resistance in their own lives. Great read!!
Hi, Holly!! I thought that this was a great blog post on an issue that relates to much of the population. All of us have had experiences in our past where we've had cold-like symptoms and been prescribed antibiotics and sent home. I actually did a project on the resistance crisis in another one of my classes. I focused on the pediatric population and found that some studies reported that broad-spectrum antibiotics were an unnecessarily form of treatment about 25% of the time. This leads to an immense amount of resistance as you've stated. I think it's interesting that while this is such a big issue, we still have a heavy antibiotic-prescribing culture in the healthcare system. Honestly, I've likely been prescribed antibiotics every single year since a child and I doubt I've finished the course each time. I'm mindful of it now but definitely wasn't growing up. My parents weren't either, so sometimes my mom would offer me her unfinished antibiotics when I had a cold as a child (which we now know was not the best idea). With this, awareness is super important and I thought your blog was a great way to educate the population!!
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great blog post that highlights the main points of antibiotic resistance. With this topic becoming so prevelant in today's society, it is important to understand how we have gotten to this point with antibiotic treatments. We know that over prescribing these drugs has become a major concern with this so I am curious to see how this shift in resistance will affect physicians and their ability to prescribe these antibiotics. I am just curious to see if standards could be put in place to reduce the amount of antibiotics being prescribed or if there is any hope for a new development in the future that could help curve this problem!
ReplyDeleteHi, Holly! I really enjoyed the choice of topic of your blog post because antibiotic resistance is an incredibly relevant issue; in fact, it's something that I had an experience with this summer while at an urgent care clinic. The physician told me that there was a respiratory infection going around that was showing some resistance to certain antibiotics, making it a bit more difficult to treat. This was eye-opening for me because prior to this experience, I never saw the effects of antibiotic resistance myself. Something that Dr. Hadley discussed that really concerned me was the decrease in antibiotic development despite the increase in antibiotic resistance. As such, I definitely agree with you that we all need to do our part in curbing antibiotic resistance by only taking antibiotics for bacterial infections and taking the full course of antibiotics we are prescribed. I think that perhaps increasing education about antibiotic resistance for providers would be beneficial. For example, perhaps medical schools and PA programs could add courses or seminars dedicated to this pressing issue. As we discussed in class, adding financial incentives to antibiotic development could become increasingly important in the future as well. This was a very good blog post!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this article. It was a great supplement to Dr. Hadley's presentation. I feel as though you did an amazing job explaining how antibiotic misuse can cause serious issues like C diff. This topic reminds me of when I was traveling abroad to the Netherlands. There, I got strep throat, but the doctors over there do not like to prescribe antibiotics. The doctor explained that it was because our bodies need to fight the infection ourselves.
ReplyDeleteAntibiotic resistance has to be up there on the list when it comes to problems that genuinely scare me! The idea of becoming sick from a bacteria in 20 or 30 years (or even less) and not having an medication to help me get better is so frightening! It is super unfortunate as well that their is no incentive for these big companies to develop more antibiotics as their is little profit seen in this area. This is another great article to give a patient who is not understanding the implications of antibiotic use. It really highlights how to avoid antibiotic resistance from the patient view point as well as the significance of this resistance.
ReplyDeleteHolly, I am partial because I am writing a term paper about antibiotic resistance in Appalachia, but I believe this blog is my favorite. I loved how you explained antibiotics can be bacteriostatic or bactericidal without using these specific terms. This is just one exampled of how you efficiently explained this problem to where a general audience could understand. This problem is extremely alarming and there should be more attention nationwide, and globally, to attack this! I hope you shared this post to your social media accounts. It would be a great way to educate your family/ friends and community!
ReplyDeleteHi Holly! I think this topic is so important with regard to current dynamics in pharmacology. After hearing Dr. Hadley's lecture concerning the current lack of antibiotic development and the presence of superbug infections that are becoming more and more common, I believe this issue needs to be discussed more and further education for patients is needed in order to stop the progression of antibiotic resistance. As you mention, there are often many misconceptions surrounding the use of antibiotics. For example, many parents who bring their children in for treatment of an ear or sinus infection often expect to receive antibiotics in order to "cure" these conditions, however they are often viral-based and cannot be treated using amoxicillin or a similar antibiotic. Additionally, I was interested to read your paragraph about C. diff infections, as I had heard about these types of cases on the news but was not aware that they were secondary infections caused by the killing of healthy bacteria. I think something that makes this issue even more complex is maintaining this balance between killing harmful bacteria while having minimal effects on our healthy bacteria. This was a very informative read and I think it is crucial to continue uncovering the misconceptions about antibiotics and increase education for patients if we are going to slow the development of this terrifying issue. Great job!
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ReplyDeleteHey Holly!
Your piece provides a clear and concise overview of antibiotics, their misuse, and the critical issue of antibiotic resistance. The analogy of antibiotics as a comfortable choice of treatment and the tendency for patients to opt for them instead of less familiar therapeutics is insightful. It sheds light on a common misconception that antibiotics are a universal solution to illnesses that I personally know many people have. The ineffectiveness of antibiotics against viruses or fungi is crucial information that highlights how important it is for patients to be educated on what they’re taking and why they are taking it in the first place. Patients should always be active players in their own healthcare journey to ensure informed and effective decisions are made. Great job!
Hi, Holly!
ReplyDeleteYour blog post provides great insight into the production of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Before hearing from Dr. Hadley and now reading your post, I was unaware of the consequences associated with the misuse of antibiotics by both the patient and their physicians. However, I am now seeing how this can be a major issue that healthcare providers face today. I believe that patients should be educated on this topic before being prescribed antibiotics for an infection. I also am interested in learning more about what infections warrant antibiotic prescriptions and what infections do not. This brings up the question of "are patients too stubborn to let an infection run its course?". I also liked how you discussed how antibiotics are not sufficient in treating fungal or viral infections although some physicians use these medications as a treatment. This passage was very insightful and helped drive home the importance of proper antibiotic use by patients and physicians alike. Well done!
Hey Holly!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thanks to Dr. Hadley, I found this topic more interesting as I have already built a foundation for it. Antibiotic resistance, in my opinion, is a terrifying problem in today's world. The last thing we need in this world is a super bacteria to spread worldwide. That said, as a future physician, gaining knowledge on these topics will be very valuable as I one day will be prescribing drugs such as antibiotics. It is straightforward for a busy physician to prescribe antibiotics to sick patients without taking the proper measures to ensure that antibiotics are the correct treatment to give. Before reading this article, I had no idea that the dosage of antibiotics mattered and that antibiotics did not work on viruses. Thank you for allowing me to gain more knowledge on this topic!
I enjoyed reading your blog! I believe this topic is important and needs to be talked about more to help improve the fight against antibiotic resistance. I believe that how today’s society is prescribing medicine when it is not necessarily needed is something that should be spoken about more often. There are too many cases of antibiotic resistance today because doctors receive bonus money to prescribe them. I also liked your point on how not to take extra antibiotics that are leftover and to contact a healthcare professional because that is all too common of an issue.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great read! I appreciated your thorough and engaging analysis of the topic. Antibiotic misuse and overuse is certainly a time-sensitive public health concern. I'm definitely nervous about the future of "superbugs" that may quickly evolve if people aren't properly prescribed/educated on antibiotics. This topic is especially important for those of us who are aspiring physicians, as we are responsible for educating our patients and their families to ensure the best health outcomes. We also need to be able to decide when it is most appropriate to prescribe antibiotics, which antibiotic to prescribe, and for how long.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very well written blog, the frightening reality of antibiotic resistance is that antibiotic resistance is a major issue; the thought of contracting a bacterial infection and having no medication available to treat it is a daunting prospect. Unfortunately, large pharmaceutical companies have little incentive to develop new antibiotics as there is little profit to be gained. This article is a great resource for people who are struggling to understand the implications of antibiotic use, as it underlines the significance of antibiotic resistance and provides tips on how to avoid contributing to the problem.
ReplyDeleteHolly, you did an amazing job on this blog post about antibiotic resistance! Everyone needs to read this article because it could save lives! I love how you used the term "superbug," I had never heard that before to describe antibiotic resistant bacteria. You finished the post off well calling on people to finish their prescription no matter what.
ReplyDeleteHi Holly,
ReplyDeleteYour blog post on antibiotic resistance is both eye-opening and crucial. The way you described the serious consequences of antibiotic misuse and the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs emphasizes how urgent this issue is. Following your post, I feel a greater sense of responsibility to use antibiotics correctly and complete the entire course as prescribed. Your message is a strong call to action, urging all of us to take a proactive approach to antibiotic resistance. Your ability to convey this critical message clearly and convincingly is impressive. Fantastic job!
Hi Holly, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog post! I love how it aligned with Dr. Hadley's presentations! I hate to admit it, but I am bad at not finishing my entire antibiotic regimen sometimes! This is such an important topic and definitely needs to be brought to attention. We need more education through healthcare about the harmfulness of misusing antibiotics! This information isn't commonly known by some patients. My family members who aren't in healthcare definitely weren't educated on this topic. This blog post was such a great read and contained informative content! Great job!
ReplyDeleteHi Holly, not only was this blog an interesting read, I thought the images and name funny. You did a great job explaining antibiotics and their resistance in layman's terms. I wish more people knew that antiBIOTICS do not kill viruses and fungi.
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