Antibiotic Resistance: What Is It, Complications and How to Prevent

Updated on 22 May 2023

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With the ever-increasing diseases and health ailments, drug research institutes and private players continuously aim to manufacture medicines that keep harmful bacteria and fungi in check.

However, the bacteria, too, produce certain proteins to rapidly counter the medicines and develop resistance to them. One such phenomenon has been observed in the uses of antibiotic. That means germs are not killed and continue to grow.

What are Antibiotics?

The term antibiotic literally means “against life.” Technically speaking, any medicine that kills harmful germs can be called an antibiotic, but medical professionals often use the term when referring to medicines that kill or inhibit bacterial growth.

What is Antibiotic Resistance?

Antibiotic resistance, as some may infer, is the resistance developed by our bodies against the medicine, but it is the bacteria that produce proteins that help them develop resilience against the drug. These specific protein DNA chains are then transmitted to other bacteria, which in turn also exhibit similar characteristics, nullifying the effect of antibiotics.

Known as “superbugs” or “super bacteria”, these germs make our bodies more susceptible to diseases that cannot be treated. This hazardous occurrence is attributed to the overuse of antibiotics for even minor ailments, such as coughs and colds, which as a rule can be controlled by the body’s immune system and don’t need antibiotics.

Consequences of Antibiotic Resistance

As we have elaborated above, how antibiotic resistance is one of the top issues faced by the drug industry in the 21st century. Let us summarise the problems of the overuse of antibiotics.

Multi-drug resistance can lead to the requirement for second-line and third-line antibiotics, which are very expensive
With resistance to multiple antibiotics, the treatment may be ineffective and patients can succumb to the illness
Prolonged recovery time and damage to other organs require more sophisticated and costly treatment
Exorbitantly expensive treatments
Increase in the frequency of healthcare provider visits
The emergence of incurable diseases

How to Prevent Antibiotic Resistance?

In order to avoid a future catastrophe, antibiotics should be used properly and cautiously. Limited use of antibiotics is also known as “antibiotic stewardship.”

As seen above, antibiotic resistance is a serious issue plaguing the healthcare industry right now. The onus of antibiotic stewardship programs is not only on healthcare professionals, but we can also contribute by rigorously following these subsequent steps for the prevention of antibiotic resistance:

Complete the course of antibiotic medication as prescribed by your doctor.
Do not stop or start taking the antibiotic without the doctor’s advice.
Never share your antibiotics with anyone else without proper medical consultation.

Let’s have a look at the advantages of following medical advice and the above pointers.

Prevent the recurrence of the same disease
Prevent antibiotic-resistant infections
Avoid the side effects of using antibiotics

Conclusion

Though antibiotic resistance is on the rise, individuals can hamper the advances of bacteria by owning their responsibilities and scrupulously following medical advice.

Healthcare professionals and drug manufacturers, meanwhile, are always on the lookout for new formulae that can rescue human beings from any major future health disorders. The human race has made exponential advances in the medicinal field during the last century and will certainly make outstanding progress in obstructing any major challenges.