For several years, scientists warned us: “If we’re not more careful with how we use antibiotics, we’ll soon have a mutant bacteria that cannot be killed by any of the antibiotics we have – not even the strongest one!” Well, that day has come.
Health officials in the United States of America, reported, last Thursday, the first ever case of a bacteria that cannot be killed by last-resort antibiotics.
The victim was a 49-year-old woman, suffering from a urinary tract infection (UTI). The bacteria that invaded a routine infection is resistant to a last-resort antibiotic, called Colistin.
“We risk being in a post-antibiotic world,” said Thomas Frieden, director of the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
How did this happen?
Antibiotics are being overprescribed and used incorrectly. Eventually, bacteria learn how to protect themselves from the specific antibiotic; which can cause a resistant strain of the infection.
“It is dangerous and we would assume it can be spread quickly, even in a hospital environment if it is not well contained,” said Dr. Gail Cassell, a microbiologist and senior lecturer at Harvard Medical School.
Dangers of overuse
Besides antibiotic resistance, overuse of this medication can:
- Upset your immune and digestive system by killing the good bacteria in your gut. What can I do? Ask your doctor to prescribe a probiotic. This is something you take after your course of antibiotics, to bring back the good bacteria killed by the antibiotics.
- Have dangerous side-effects if you self-diagnose and take them for viral illnesses
- Slow down recovery
The bottom line is that you need to ask your doctor questions before they prescribe antibiotics. You need to be aware of the possible side effects.
What can we do about it?
From a personal perspective it’s important that we
- only take antibiotics when they’re absolutely necessary,
- practice correct hygiene, thoroughly wash your hands, as well as fruits and vegetables,
- stay physically healthy, paying special attention to regular exercise and balanced diet.
From a healthcare perspective: We need to find a cure, fast! The reality is that pharmaceutical companies are reluctant to develop new antibiotics; much larger profits can be made from producing cancer and other rare disease medications.
“The more we look at drug resistance, the more concerned we are,” Frieden added. “The medicine cabinet is empty for some patients. It is the end of the road for antibiotics unless we act urgently.”
Hopefully, the reality of this case may be the wake-up call that we need.
Sources
http://www.hellodoctor.co.za/antibiotics-when-to-say-no/
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-superbug-idUSKCN0YH2KT
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/antibiotics/art-20045720?pg=2