Superbugs: Antibiotics and Resistant Bacteria

I've been dealing with a lot patients at work lately, who are in isolation with diseases like MRSA, and VRE. Common bacterial infections, made much more dangerous, because our common antibiotics don't work anymore. It's come to my attention, from talking to my patients, my family, and my friends, that not many people know exactly what antibiotic resistance means, and why it's becoming such a problem, so I created this myTake. Enjoy!

What is a superbug?

'Superbug' is a common term for an antibiotic resistance bacteria. These include diseases like MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus), VRE (vancomycin resistance enterococcus), multi drug resistant strains of E. coli. And one of the most terrifying, multi-drug-resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis, strains of near-impossible to cure tuberculosis.

Where did these superbugs come from?

Us. When penicillin was discovered, it was a miracle drug. Diseases that previously killed people, could be treated easily with a course of antibiotics. And as we continued to develop antibiotics, we used them more and more. Soon, people started taking antibiotics for everything. Not just bacterial infections, but for colds, flus, every malady imaginable, people wanted antibiotics for it. They got put in our water, food, soaps, and other everyday items.

Then we started to discover diseases like MRSA. Suddenly, our antibiotics weren't working for basic infections.

What happened?

When people started overusing antibiotics, bacteria began to become immune. People started courses of antibiotics, then stopped them when they started to feel better. This wiped out some of the bacteria, and left some, that became immune to that antibiotic. The resistant bacteria began to multiply, and thus the antibiotic resistant strains began to emerge as a serious problem.

Now, the incidence of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria are on the rise, and they're becoming resistant to more and more classes of antibiotics.

How do we stop it?

We can start by stopping the overuse of antibiotics. If you come down with a cold, or a runny nose, or even the flu, don't go to your doctor for a quick antibiotic prescription. They won't work. These things are caused by viruses or allergies, not bacteria, so antibiotics will have no effect at all. If you are prescribed antibiotics, ensure that you take the course exactly as instructed, and take the entire course.

Ensuring you follow effective hygeine procedures will help stop the spread of these diseases. Wash your hands well and stay away from others if you are ill.

How serious is this?

The World Health Organisation has called antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance 'one of the biggest threats for human health today'.

Follow their advice, and stop the abuse of these drugs.

Source:

https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs194/en/