INTRODUCTION TO ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
Antibiotic resistance is a global public health challenge, which was accelerated by the overuse of antibiotics worldwide. Increased antibiotic resistance is the cause of severe infections, complications, longer hospital stays and increased mortality.
Overprescribing of an antibiotic is associated with
- An increased risk of adverse effects,
- More frequent reattendance and
- Increased medicalization of self-limiting conditions.
Infection with antibiotic-resistant bacteria may cause severe illness, increased mortality rates, and an increased risk of complications and admission to hospital.
CONCERN RAISED
Physicians maintained the perception that antibiotic resistance was less important in their medical practice when compared to other public health care issues commonly faced, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and opioid misuse.
According to study, “while many participants acknowledged that antibiotic resistance is a concern, many didn’t see it as an issue that impacted their patients or their daily practice.”
Instead, most participants considered antibiotic resistance as something affecting sicker, hospitalized patients. But as in the United States, about 2.8 million illnesses and 35,000 deaths are caused by antibiotic-resistant infections each year.
CONCLUSION
Antibiotic resistance is a major concern for doctors and medical fraternity worldwide. Antibiotic use is a significant factor driving increasing rates of antibiotic resistance because when exposed to antibiotics, bacteria can develop resistance characteristics to escape their effects. Antibiotics can also reduce the number of bacteria that are not resistant, allowing more space for resistant bacteria to multiply and spread.
Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a direct relationship between an antibiotic consumption and the emergence and dissemination of resistant bacteria strains.
Several new antibiotics are presently being developed, none of them are projected to be effective against the most severe form of antibiotic resistant bacteria. So, doctors and medical researchers need to develop strategies for tackling antibiotic resistance.
-Ankita Singh (MBBS, NMCH)
Editor – Madiha Fatma (MBBS, MMCH)
