Antibiotics, which are also known as antimicrobial drugs, are medicines that fight infections caused by bacteria. They act by various mechanisms to either arrest the growth or kill the bacteria, and check the infections caused by them. Antibiotics may be derived from other microorganisms or may be synthetic.

Antibiotic resistance means that bacteria have become tolerant to the effect of the antibiotic and the antibiotic will no longer be able to check their growth. Bacteria can withstand higher amounts of antibiotic without being affected by it. Hence, in situations where it once was effective, the antibiotic does not produce a clinical benefit in bacterial infections.

Antibiotic resistance is a huge public health problem because the resistance is capable of spreading. With emerging resistance, there are progressively fewer choices to treat infections. Gradually, bacteria may become resistant to more than one antibiotic. Such multidrug resistance can make management of infections more challenging.

An example is the antibiotic penicillin. Once a wonder drug, it is now ineffective against many bacteria and currently in use for only few infections. When it was first discovered, penicillin transformed medical care and dramatically reduced illness, and even death, from infectious diseases. The implications of antibiotic resistance are serious.

Antibiotic resistance creates the following potential issues:

• Persistent infections

 

• Complicated illnesses

 

• Prolonged treatment

 

• Extended hospitalizations

 

• Frequent doctor visits

 

• Use of more medicines; therefore, higher chances of more side effects

 

• Increased cost of treatment

 

• Increased risk of disability and fatality.

Taking Antibiotics

Antibiotics should be taken only when they are clearly indicated for bacterial infections. Some bacteria are known to be sensitive to certain antibiotics; for example, bacteria causing gut infections and diarrhea are sensitive to antibiotics like ciprofloxacin.

However, in some cases, an antibiotic may be prescribed only after a clinical examination to determine the type of infections. This is known as sensitivity testing. In this procedure, samples are taken from the site of infection (for example sputum in respiratory infection, urine in urinary tract infection, or blood in general infection) and these are subjected to laboratory testing. The bacteria, isolated and grown from these samples in the laboratory, are then tested for sensitivity to antibiotics using small discs impregnated with antibiotics and noting how the antibiotics affect the growth of the bacteria. Sometimes, there may be more than one bacterium causing the infection; in such multiple infections, more than one antibiotic maybe needed so these lab tests help fine tune the correct antibiotic for the job.

Antibiotics should be taken strictly according to the doctor’s advice. No single dose should be skipped. The entire duration of therapy should be completed even if someone begins to feel better before the drug regimen is complete.

Reducing the Risk of Antibiotic Resistance

Over-medication has no additional benefit, especially in the case of antibiotics. Medical help should be sought before treatment is initiated for any infection. Practicing the following simple precautions can reduce antibiotic resistance:

• To prevent the spread of infections in the first place, wash your hands

 

• Do not taken antibiotics for illnesses that are commonly caused by viruses because antibiotics are only effective against certain bacteria

 

• Antibiotics should be taken strictly according to the doctor’s prescription when treating a bacterial infection

 

• No single dose should be skipped and the entire duration of therapy should be completed even if relief is obtained after partial therapy to avoid bacteria surviving and re-infecting the patient

 

• One should never take antibiotics that have been prescribed for others

 

• Part of the medicine should not be saved or kept aside to be used in the case of a future infection because taking the wrong antibiotic for another infection can delay treatment and potentially make an infection much worse

Judicious use of antibiotics can make them work more effectively for treating bacterial infections. The doctor can help the patient to understand the indication, dose, duration, side effects, and precautions when taking the antibiotics. The best way to take an antibiotic is to take it exactly as it is prescribed.