If you believe antibiotic resistance doesn't affect you or isn't a problem, think again. A famous example of the risks of antibiotic resistance is increase of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA. MRSA was previously a concern only for patients in the hospital, but a latest form of MRSA is creating infections in vigorous people in the society.
Antibiotic resistance arises when antibiotics no longer show its activity against disease-causing or infectious bacteria. These infections are complex to treat and can create longer lasting sicknesses, extended hospital stays or more doctor visits, and the requirement for more toxic and expensive medications. Some resistant illnesses can even cause death.
Although specialists are working to invent treatments and new antibiotics to maintain pace with antibiotic-resistant strains of the bacteria, infectious microbes can adapt rapidly. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria will begin to be an international health concern and applying antibiotics wisely is significant for stopping their spread.
Antibiotics are successful against bacterial infections, some varieties of parasites and certain fungal infections. Antibiotics aren't effective against viruses. Bacterial infections include bladder infections, many skin and wound infections (e.g. staph infections), strep throat, severe sinus infections which last longer than 2 weeks, some ear infections and more. When Viral infections include Bronchitis, Flu (influenza), colds, most coughs, most sore throats, most ear infections, stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis) etc. Taking an antibiotic while you suffer from a viral infection could not make you fit and can contribute to the antibiotic resistance.
If antibiotics are applied too frequently for things it can't treat like flu, colds or other viral infections not just are they of no advantage, they become less useful against the bacteria.
Not taking antibiotics accurately as recommended also leads to difficulties, such as, if you take any antibiotics for only some days rather than the full course then the antibiotic may destroy some, but not all members, of the bacteria. The existing bacteria become further resistant and can be increased to other people. While bacteria become resistant to the first line treatments, the threat of death and complications is increased.
The failure of the first line antibiotics also indicates that doctors must resort to less usual medications, many of that are associated with more-serious consequences and more costly. For example, the drugs required to treat drug-resistant varieties of tuberculosis are more expensive than the drugs are used to treat nonresistant tuberculosis. The course of treatment is lengthy up to one year and the consequences can be severe.
Other side effects are the increased costs related with prolonged diseases, including expenses for further tests, hospitalization and treatments, and indirect costs, for instance, lost income. The application of antibiotics can even create a non-resistant bacterium to become a resistant one because these take up DNA of others which are already resistant.
The misuse of antibiotics forces bacteria to take up DNA of other bacteria which are resistant to antibiotics, since the existence of antibiotics exposes these to a big stress. As said by the researcher, in this method, non-resistant bacteria become the resistant one totally by accident on consuming this DNA and can become much more virulent, partially due to the pressure we focus them to as we make an abuse of antibiotics.
For years, experts from all around the world have been investigating into how, why and when bacteria take up the DNA from another antibiotic-resistant bacterium, as a result becoming also resistant. Answers as to while there are the DNA uptake (in stressful or unfavorable conditions) and as to how bacteria take up it are obvious, but, nobody has identified the cause why bacteria ingest these genetic materials.
Under normal circumstances, a bacterium could have lots to lose wither it makes a decision to take up the DNA, since it does not contain a 'DNA reader' allowing it to take up just those molecules which are of apply to it.
Antibiotic resistance is an international health issue. Almost all major bacterial infections in the earth are becoming resistant to frequently used antibiotics. While you abuse antibiotics, you assist to create resistant germs that can cause latest and hard-to-treat infections. For this reason, the choices you make about applying antibiotics unlike nearly any other drug you take have far-reaching side effects. Be responsible in what way you use antibiotics to save your health and your family and community.
Antibiotics can be the lifesavers, but abuse has developed various drug-resistant germs in human body.
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