The Dangers Of Antibiotic Resistance

What Is Antibiotic Resistance?

The problem with antibiotics is that the bacteria it is meant to eradicate grow resistant to it over time. That, in turn, means that far beyond mere household cleanliness issues, bacteria become resistant in places where you really need them to work such as in hospitals and when people are really ill. WHO even calls the problem “a major threat to public health.” The future is not looking good, the report says, and the world can look forward to a time in the near future when once treatable diseases “can once again kill.”

How Did This Happen?

The roots of this problem came through good intentions, with a lot of help from business’ who marketed the wonders of antibacterial agents in every conceivable product. Some of the causes include using antibiotics when they were not needed – such as fighting a virus, for which antibiotics don’t work. Conversely, not taking antibiotics as prescribed created the problem as well because that failure allowed bacteria that would have otherwise been knocked out to survive and infect again. The common and widespread use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine and agriculture also helped cause the problem, experts say, because that widespread use helped build bacterial resistance even faster. Resistant bacteria can be transmitted to humans through the foods we eat.

The problem has even been made worse due to global travel. This means that the problem that may have been contained in one country can more easily spread to other countries and people when they travel abroad.

What Can You Do?

The problem is a global one, but it is one that requires everyone to take precautions. Here are some tips:

• Take precautions when traveling (such as proper vaccinations). That means not only avoiding contact with people who may be ill when away from home, but also re-considering your own travel plans if you are sick.
• Practice good hygiene. Be vigilant about washing your hands after contact with an ill family member, for example, or after being in contact with dirty surfaces or products (like raw chicken).
• Understand when and when not to use antibiotics. Viruses cause a cold or flu and antibacterial agents will have no affect. When it is prescribed, take it as ordered and don’t fail to take it until your doctor says its ok, even if you think you feel better.
• Don’t use antibiotics that have an expired date.
• Avoid using common cleaners, soaps and other household items that brag about having antibacterial agents. A good soap and hot water scrubbing will do just fine to clean your countertops.

In the U.S. the CDC has proposed a Detect and Protect Against Antibiotic Resistance Initiative (known as the AR Initiative) as part of a broader CDC strategy to target investment aimed at AR. If Congress authorizes the $30 million dollars in 2015 that has been requested the initiative would achieve a 50 percent reduction in healthcare-associated C. difficile, which saves 20,000 lives, prevents 150,000 hospitalizations, and cuts more than $2 billion in healthcare costs; a 50 percent reduction in healthcare-associated CRE infections; 30 percent reduction in healthcare-associated multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas, a common cause of healthcare-associated infections; a 30 percent reduction in invasive MRSA; and a 25 percent reduction in MDR Salmonella infections.

A national ‘Get Smart’ educational campaign has also been launched to help people understand when antibiotics work and when they don’t; what the impact is on farms; and how proper hygiene can save lives.