Misuse/Overuse of Antibiotic

 

Antibiotics are important drugs. Many antibiotics can effectively treat bacterial illnesses. Antibiotics can help prevent the spread of diseases. Antibiotics can also help prevent major illness consequences.

However, several medicines that were once widely used to treat bacterial infections are no longer effective. Furthermore, some medications are completely ineffective against some microorganisms. Antibiotic resistance occurs when some bacterial strains no longer respond to an antibiotic. Antibiotic resistance is one of the world's most urgent health problems.

The overuse and misuse of antibiotics are major contributors to antibiotic resistance. The general public, health care providers, and hospitals may all help to ensure that the drugs are used correctly. This can reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Also Read: Virus Structure, Types, Microbiology & Replication Of Virus

What is an antibiotic?

Antibiotics are drugs that kill and stop the growth of specific types of germs called bacteria. Antibiotics are essential tools for preventing and treating diseases caused by certain bacteria in humans, animals, and crops. Antibiotics are one of the most drugs that work in the fight against life-threatening bacterial infections.

Antibiotics, often known as antimicrobials, are drugs used to treat infections in animals or humans by killing or limiting the growth of microorganisms responsible for illness. Antimicrobials include drugs such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, and anthelmintics, all of which are important in protecting human and animal health and welfare. The discovery of antibiotics was one of the most well-known and significant developments in medicine in history.

What is the misuse of antibiotics?

Antibiotic misuse occurs when a person takes the wrong antibiotic, the incorrect dose, or the antibiotic for the wrong duration of time. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment for your sickness and what you can do to feel better if you don't need an antibiotic. Never pressure your doctor to prescribe antibiotics. Save the antibiotics for later.

What causes antimicrobial resistance?

 Bacteria resist drugs when they change in some way.  The alteration may shield the bacteria from the drug's effects or restrict the drug's access to the bacterium.  Alternatively, the change may cause microbes to change or kill the medication.

 Bacteria that survive an antibiotic treatment can proliferate and pass on resistance genes.  Furthermore, certain bacteria can pass on their drug-resistant traits to other bacteria.  This is similar to them sharing survival ideas.

 Bacterial resistance to a drug is normal and expected.  However, the manner in which medications are taken influences how quickly and to what extent resistance occurs.

Antibiotic resistance may affect anyone, at any age, and in any country. It poses a risk to human health, food security, and sustainable development.

Misuse of antibiotics:

Antibiotic misuse is an increasing global threat, contributing to the growth of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and endangering our ability to treat common infections and save lives efficiently. This study examines how and why antibiotics are misused in many parts of the world, whether due to medical overprescribing, patient self-administration, or a lack of strong healthcare regulations.

Patterns and causes of antibiotic abuse:

 Inappropriate prescribing by healthcare providers.

 Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in clinical settings remains a major driver of the global AMR crisis.  As frontline stewards of antibiotic usage, healthcare personnel frequently find themselves balancing clinical responsibility with daily challenges such as limited time, high patient loads, insufficient diagnostic resources, and pressure to satisfy patient expectations.  These demands are especially acute in underdeveloped nations and understaffed healthcare settings, where overworked practitioners may lack access to cutting-edge instruments or support systems.

Self-medication by patients:

Self-medication with antibiotics is still one of the most persistent and overlooked contributors to antimicrobial misuse, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where regulatory oversight is frequently restricted or poorly enforced. In many places of the world, a person may walk into a pharmacy and purchase antibiotics without contacting a doctor or asking any questions. Over-the-counter access, which is especially frequent in rural or underprivileged places, enables people to treat themselves for viral infections like the common cold or flu, which do not require antibiotics in the first place.

Overuse of Antibiotics:

Overuse of antibiotics, especially when they are not the appropriate treatment, develops antibiotic resistance. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately one-third of antibiotic use in humans is not needed or inappropriate.

Antibiotics treat bacterial infections. However, they do not treat virus-related infections. For example, antibiotics are the appropriate treatment for strep throat, which is caused by bacteria. However, it is ineffective for the majority of virally induced sore throats.

Antibiotics do not assist other common viral infections, such as:

• Cold or runny nose

• Influenza (flu)

• Bronchitis

• Most coughs

• Some ear infections

• Several sinus infections

• Stomach flu

• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Taking antibiotics for viral infections:

• Will not cure the infection

• It will not prevent others from getting sick

• Will not make you or your child feel better

• May create needless and harmful side effects

• Promotes antibiotic resistance

When you take an antibiotic for a viral infection, the drug attacks germs in your body. These microorganisms are beneficial or do not cause disease. This wrong treatment can cause innocuous bacteria to develop antibiotic resistance, which can then be passed on to other germs. Alternatively, it may allow potentially harmful bacteria to replace safe ones.

Effects of Antibiotic Resistance:

For many years, the introduction of new antibiotics accelerated the development of antibiotic resistance. However, the rate of medication resistance has been growing in recent years, resulting in a growing range of healthcare issues.

Every year, more than 2.8 million infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria occur in the United States, killing 35,000 people.

Additional outcomes of drug-resistant illnesses include:

• More serious sickness

• Longer recovery

• More frequent or extended hospital stays

• Increased visits to healthcare providers

• More expensive treatments

Though antibiotics are required to treat severe bacterial infections, their misuse has contributed to the rise of bacterial resistance. Overuse of fluoroquinolones and other antibiotics promotes antibiotic resistance in bacteria, making antibiotic-resistant infections difficult to cure. Their extensive usage in children with otitis media has resulted in the development of germs that are completely resistant to antibiotics. Furthermore, the usage of antimicrobial chemicals in building materials and personal care items has resulted in a higher percentage of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the indoor environment, where humans spend the majority of their lives.

Prevent spread of infection:

• Prepare food hygienically

• Washing hands regularly

• Working with others to enhance infection control and prevention

• Keep hands, instruments, and the environment clean

• Upgrading patients' vaccinations

• Take all doses, even if you begin to feel better

•  Monitoring hospitals and clinics for compliance with infection prevention and control guidelines. Providing communities with access to safe water and sanitation.

References:

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