Antibiotic Resistance: Misuse/Overuse, Impact on Human Health, and Prevention
Antibiotics are used to treat a number of infectious diseases effectively and avoid antibiotic resistance.
More importantly, there is a significant likelihood that the infection will be treated right away when antibiotics are administered appropriately in accordance with prescription and pharmaceutical recommendations.
Again, depending on the severity of the infection and how soon treatment was instituted, the symptoms would resolve within a few days.
Misuse or overuse of antibiotics are terms used to describe their inappropriate use.
Additionally, using antibiotics excessively or inappropriately refers to using them when they are not required.
However, when the established protocol controlling the use of antibiotics is not followed, there is a misuse and abuse of antibiotics.
Usually, this has both short-term and long-term negative impacts.
Antibiotic Resistance
First of all, using antibiotics improperly causes antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotic resistance is a global health issue where an antibiotic’s effectiveness in treating an infection brought on by a specific bacteria has been lost.
This occurs as a result of microorganisms, such as bacteria, learning to tolerate the inhibitory activity of antibiotics through misuse and overuse.
Importantly, when compared to infections produced by susceptible strains of bacteria, infections generated by resistant bacteria typically have greater rates of unfavourable consequences.
Furthermore, antibiotic resistance frequently results in more severe diseases like tuberculosis, skin infections, and pneumococcal infections (which can cause pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, and meningitis).
Risk to human health globally: Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic resistance is on the rise everywhere, making it imperative for all parties involved to promote antibiotic stewardship.
It jeopardizes the treatment of infectious disorders, lengthens the course of treatment, and increases hospital stays.
Once more, antibiotic resistance causes treatment failures, spreads to other areas, and ultimately results in mortality.
With longer hospital stays and more extensive care needed, antimicrobial resistance raises the cost of healthcare.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): How Does It Occur?
The disease-causing organisms become resistant to antibiotics when they are overused in one of these ways.
- The production of enzymes that will break down antibiotics, such as beta-lactamase, which breaks down penicillin’s beta-lactam ring, which is crucial for its antibacterial activity.
- The bacteria might change its intended place so that an antibiotic cannot bind to it and kill or destroy it.
- Bacteria that change their metabolic routes also become resistant to antibiotics, rendering antibiotics that depend on those particular metabolic pathways ineffective.
- Another way that bacteria develop resistance is by altering their membranes.
- Some bacteria can release antibiotics from their cytoplasm. As a result, it will be challenging for antibiotics to achieve the minimal inhibitory concentration required to kill the bacteria.
When the antibiotic is misused, all of these resistance mechanisms are more likely to occur.
Effects of Abuse/Overuse of Antibiotics on Human Health
A person who overuses an antibiotic will experience a number of unpleasant side effects in addition to antibiotic resistance, which is the main result of antibiotic abuse.
They are:
- It raises the risk of fatal diarrhoea in children.
- Detachment of the typical gut microbial flora
- It makes it easier for resistance to spread from one organism to another.
- Might lead to an increase in the prevalence of untreatable Gonorrhea
- When antibiotics are used improperly in animals, public health is typically at risk.
- Slowly ushering in the post-antibiotic age, in which a straightforward bacterial infection might turn fatal due to antibiotic resistance
- Increases in the price of hospital care
- a rise in disease, pain, and fatalities among people,
- longer and more expensive therapies, and
- greater adverse effects from taking many, stronger drugs.
Antimicrobial Resistance Prevention
The saying “prevention is better than cure” should be put into practice.
Follow the advice below to prevent AMR from developing and lessen its impact.
First of all, vaccination against specific illnesses aids in AMR prevention.
Furthermore, ensuring that food is prepared safely is essential for reducing the spread of resistant germs, particularly those linked to food poisoning.
So the best technique for avoiding AMR is to eat clean meals.
Once more, precautions that will improve infection control should be taken. Hand washing, barrier protection, and patient isolation are some of these strategies.
More specifically, an enhanced waste management system is an excellent strategy to stop AMR since it stops the spread of resistant organisms in healthcare facilities, communities, farms, and the environment.
Last but not least, adhering strictly to antimicrobial stewardship is a crucial component in preventing AMR. Never use antibiotics unless absolutely required.
Additionally, when it’s time to take it, do so appropriately.
Conclusion
It is now known that using antibiotics improperly or excessively can cause antibiotic resistance, which can lead to both treatment failure and fatalities.
Therefore, it’s crucial to follow our prescriber’s advice and avoid using antibiotics improperly. Consult a licensed pharmacist if in doubt.
