The Issue of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotics are a type of medication used to treat various bacterial infections, from urinary tract infections to pneumonia, in the human body. Literally meaning “against life,” antibiotics are used to limit the growth of harmful bacteria and infections. Antibiotics led to groundbreaking advancements in the medical field during the 20th century, opening doors to new methods of eliminating bacterial microbes.

The idea of inhibiting the growth of certain harmful bacteria while also preserving thousands of others crucial to the human body was revolutionary. British scientist Alexander Flemming’s accidental discovery of penicillin, the first antibiotic, led to its mass-production in the 1940s to treat Staphylococcus, pneumonia, and infected wounds, especially during World War II. Since then, the development of various other antibiotics has significantly assisted in eradicating diseases such as smallpox that once plagued the human population (American Academy of Pediatrics, n.d.). Despite its convenience, the widespread use of antibiotics has brought about detrimental consequences in the span of the past few decades.

With antibiotics being an important resource in the medical field, it is vital to understand that not all bacterial infections require antibiotics in order to be treated. The vast use of antibiotics for various infections that do not need it to begin with, such as viral infections, can have serious effects on the human body. This is where the global issue of antibiotic-resistant bacteria begins.

Antibiotic resistance is generally defined as a phenomenon whereby bacterial cells exposed to an excessive amount of antibiotics develop resistance to that medication. As seen in the following diagram, while non-resistant bacteria are killed off by antibiotics, genetically resistant specimens tend to survive and pass on their mutated resistance to future generations (Figure 2). Surges in antibiotic prescriptions by medical professionals have provoked certain types of bacteria to adapt to these treatments, leading to greater immunity as well as rendering this method of medication ineffective (U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d.). Another cause for a rise in bacterial resistance is the irresponsible use of antibiotics by the public. Patients who share leftovers of an antibiotic prescription with another person, finish them earlier than scheduled, or fail to finish the entire prescription can all cause the medication to work only partially, or not at all. These ineffective results can contribute to the growing bacterial adaptiveness as patient misuse increases (Cedars Sinai, n.d.).

Figure 2: This is a progressive diagram depicting how antibiotic resistance can occur as a result of excessive or improper use. https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800/2019/1-howtotrainth.jpg

Growing antibiotic resistance is a critical problem because infections that were easily treatable in the past are now becoming virtually untreatable. For example, the antibiotic “methicillin” no longer has an effect on methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), a specific strain of highly contagious staph bacteria. Tuberculosis, pneumonia, and other foodborne diseases that are common in the world are becoming more difficult to cure (Cedars Sinai, n.d.). Furthermore, antibiotic resistance can lead to adverse health effects beyond untreatable infections, as bacterial cells with resistant characteristics can spread their enhanced abilities to other bacteria within the body, further spreading this trait. Acquiring resistance can also affect the healthcare industry, as pharmaceutical companies with growing numbers of ineffective drugs experience losses.

Antibiotic resistance is a growing issue in today’s healthcare industry, leaving medical professionals uncertain of the future of antibiotics. Many medical treatments for chronic illnesses are reliant on the use of antibiotics to treat infections, which is why this issue is an imperative one to fix. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d.), approximately 2.8 million people are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria or fungi in the U.S. each year, and more than 35,000 die as a result. For antibiotics to continue being a paramount resource within the medical world, humans have to be more mindful of their usages: the more people use antibiotics, the more susceptible people will become to developing and spreading resistant bacteria. As mentioned before, doctors should only prescribe antibiotics when they are absolutely necessary, possibly requiring healthcare workers to find alternative safe ways to eliminate an infection. Other sectors of the workforce can also contribute to the fight against antibiotic resistance by promoting awareness on the issue, regulating antibiotic production, and improving the surveillance of possible bacterial threats worldwide (World Health Organization n.d.). If this problem is left unattended longer, even minor diseases will become much more destructive to humans, so it’s vital to take action immediately.

Reference(s)

• American Academy of Pediatrics. (n.d.). The history of antibiotics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/treatments/Pages/The-History-of-Antibiotics.aspx

• Cedars Sinai. (n.d.). Antibiotic resistance. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/a/antibiotic-resistance.html

• Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Biggest threats and data. https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/biggest-threats.html

• U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Antibiotics. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/antibiotics.html

• World Health Organization. (n.d.). Antibiotic resistance. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antibiotic-resistance

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