Antibiotic Resistance
Killer at large: Antibiotic Resistance
Remember that teacher who would make students use antibacterials on the way in and out of the classroom? Scientist and medical professionals have now realized that all antibacterials, antibiotics and antimicrobials are contributing to a large complication that may make it so no bacteriums can be killed. Since the creation of antibiotics in 1896, doctors and medical practitioners have been able to save hundreds of millions of lives that otherwise would have been lost. However, these medications have now jump-started what may cause a deadly epidemic: antibiotic resistance. According to the Center for Disease Control, antibiotic resistance is one of the world 's most pressing public health problems. Antibiotic resistance is the ability for bacteria to withstand the effects of antibiotics. This predicament started soon after the discovery: due to the over use of it. Antibiotics, commonly referred to as antibacterials or antimicrobials, are a type of medication that kills or slows the growth of …show more content…
bacteria (Medical News Today). Bacteria, a microorganism, causes dangerous illnesses such as syphilis, tuberculosis, salmonella and some strains of meningitis (Christian Nordquist). They are used to treat such illnesses as bacterial bronchitis,pneumonia, strep throat, bacterial ear infection,and pink eye. When they are used properly, antibiotics can save people lives. But, once antibiotic resistance occurs, a drug may no longer be as effective, if effective at all, in treating various illnesses or infections.
Bacterias ability to become resistant to these antibacterials can be acquired in one of three ways: spontaneous DNA mutation, one bacterium may take up DNA from another bacterium, or a small circle of DNA called a plasmid can flit from one type of bacterium to another ( Ricki Lewis). This process is explained very well by the Alliance for the Prudent use of Antibiotics.
“Genetically, antibiotic resistance spreads through bacteria populations both "vertically," when new generations inherit antibiotic resistance genes, and "horizontally," when bacteria share or exchange sections of genetic material with other bacteria. Horizontal gene transfer can even occur between different bacterial species. Environmentally, antibiotic resistance spreads as bacteria themselves move from place to place; bacteria can travel via airplane, water and wind. People can pass the resistant bacteria to others; for example, by coughing or contact with unwashed hands.”
In other words, the gene for antibiotic resistance is spread in two different ways: inherited or exchanged.
The bacterias that contain these genes are then spread from point a to point b sharing this gene with the most amount of bacteria possible. When the plasmid, a small loop of genetic material that can be easily transferred between bacteria, is moved from one bacterium to another it provide a slew of different resistances making it the most dangerous way of creation. Furthermore,The spreading of the resistance gene is increasing at an incredible speed. According to the Center for Disease Control , in 2004, 63 percent of all reported staph infections in the United States were caused by antibiotic resistant bacterias. this is a remarkable 300 percent increase in just 10 years. In 1995, 22 percent of all reported staph infections were caused by resistant bacterias, compared to only 2 percent in
1974. Moreover,the dangers of Antibiotic resistance is exacerbating because of the over prescription of these medicines. With the resistance gene spreading to more and more bacteriums, more than 2,049,442 people are falling ill a year due to the antibacterials no longer being affective. On top of that gargantuan number of illnesses, over 23,000 people die a year with antibacterial resistance being the cause (Center for Disease Control). In addition, primary care and emergency room doctors are prescribing antibiotics for a common sore throat more than 70 percent of the time, according to national health surveys. Of these only 15 percent are necessary, contributing greatly to the rapid progression of resistant genes. This deadly thing known as antibiotic resistance can be reversed.To preserve the potency of existing antibiotics, overall antibiotic use must be decreased.
Physicians, pharmacists, and the general public must avoid careless use of these valuable drugs. Antibiotics must be prescribed only for bacterial infections and in the proper dose for the correct amount of time. Although it may take time, “ If the selective pressure that is applied by the presence of an antibiotic is removed, the bacterial population can potentially revert to a population of bacteria that responds to antibiotics” (Alliance for the Prudent use of Antibiotics). Selective pressure is the influence exerted by some factor (such as an antibiotic) on natural selection to promote one group of organisms over another (Web. MD). In plain english that is saying that if you take away the presence of antibacterial the resistance gene can no longer spread and will eventually die off. The general population, along with medical practitioners and the Food and Drug Administration, can all take steps to prevent and reduce antibiotic resistance. For the general population the main action to help prevent this cause would be to have good hygiene and live a healthy, smart lifestyle. Also, when a person is feeling a little under the weather they should not go running to a doctor looking for antibiotics to fix it all. In other words avoid antibiotics ( MAANVI SINGH).Surveys show that most doctor prescribe antibiotics when there is an alternative method of treatment because they feel it is what the parent/patient is expecting and wanting (Science Daily). When it comes to the actions medical professionals can take it is just as simple. Doctors can take the time to identify whether the infection is bacterial or viral and try there hardest to prescribe an alternative treatment or narrow spectrum antibiotic if an antibiotic is necessary (Alliance for the Prudent use of Antibiotics). Narrow spectrum antibiotics are are active against a select group of bacterial types. Meaning that instead of killing all types of bacteria, including the good, they will only be effective against certain bacteriums (Center for Disease Control). The Food and Drug Administration has now proposed a new plan addressing these nerve-racking issues. The Food and Drug Administration let out a press release saying, “The United States Food and Drug Administration today is implementing a plan to help phase out the use of medically important antimicrobials in food animals for food production purposes, such as to enhance growth or improve feed efficiency.” Many animals are treated with antibiotics for production purposes; Some of these antimicrobials are important drugs used to treat human infection. Prompting concerns about the contribution of this practice to increasing the ability of bacteria and other microbes to resist the effects of a drug. The FDA will also ”phase in veterinary oversight of the remaining appropriate therapeutic uses of such drugs.” Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration is planning on limiting the use of antibiotics that are “medically important” to being used only when necessary. The alarming complication that has arisen from the amazing creations of modern medicine is now being brought to the attention of the public. Antibiotic resistance can be avoided and decreased. By being more prudent society can avoid the unnecessary deaths that have been generated by the overuse of antibacterial, both for medical and produce reasons.
Final word count: 1210
Antibiotic Resistance Works Cited
"Antibiotic resistance." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily. .
"Antibiotics and Colds: When Do Antibiotics Work?" WebMD. WebMD. .
"Antibiotics Aren 't Always the Answer." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 16 Dec. 2013. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. .
"FDA plan addresses antibiotic resistance." The Nation 's Health Feb. 2014: 6. Gale Power Search. 6 Mar. 2014.
Medical News Today. 20 Apr. 2009. MediLexicon International. .
"The Problem of Antimicrobial Resistance." National Institute of Allgery and Infectious Diseases. 05 May 2006. .
Resnick, Brian. "What to Know About the Drug-Resistant Superbugs That Killed 23,000 Last Year." Nationaljournal.com 23 Sept. 2013. Gale Power Search. 4 Mar. 2014.
Singh, Maanvi. "Despite Many Warnings, Antibiotics Are Still Overprescribed." NPR. NPR. .
Tucker, Charlotte. "CDC says antibiotic-resistance poses threat, all must work to fight." The Nation 's Health November-December 2013: 7. Gale Power Search. 4 Mar. 2014.
"U.S. Food and Drug Administration." FDA takes significant steps to address antimicrobial resistance. .
Remember that teacher who would make students use antibacterials on the way in and out of the classroom? Scientist and medical professionals have now realized that all antibacterials, antibiotics and antimicrobials are contributing to a large complication that may make it so no bacteriums can be killed. Since the creation of antibiotics in 1896, doctors and medical practitioners have been able to save hundreds of millions of lives that otherwise would have been lost. However, these medications have now jump-started what may cause a deadly epidemic: antibiotic resistance. According to the Center for Disease Control, antibiotic resistance is one of the world 's most pressing public health problems. Antibiotic resistance is the ability for bacteria to withstand the effects of antibiotics. This predicament started soon after the discovery: due to the over use of it. Antibiotics, commonly referred to as antibacterials or antimicrobials, are a type of medication that kills or slows the growth of …show more content…
bacteria (Medical News Today). Bacteria, a microorganism, causes dangerous illnesses such as syphilis, tuberculosis, salmonella and some strains of meningitis (Christian Nordquist). They are used to treat such illnesses as bacterial bronchitis,pneumonia, strep throat, bacterial ear infection,and pink eye. When they are used properly, antibiotics can save people lives. But, once antibiotic resistance occurs, a drug may no longer be as effective, if effective at all, in treating various illnesses or infections.
Bacterias ability to become resistant to these antibacterials can be acquired in one of three ways: spontaneous DNA mutation, one bacterium may take up DNA from another bacterium, or a small circle of DNA called a plasmid can flit from one type of bacterium to another ( Ricki Lewis). This process is explained very well by the Alliance for the Prudent use of Antibiotics.
“Genetically, antibiotic resistance spreads through bacteria populations both "vertically," when new generations inherit antibiotic resistance genes, and "horizontally," when bacteria share or exchange sections of genetic material with other bacteria. Horizontal gene transfer can even occur between different bacterial species. Environmentally, antibiotic resistance spreads as bacteria themselves move from place to place; bacteria can travel via airplane, water and wind. People can pass the resistant bacteria to others; for example, by coughing or contact with unwashed hands.”
In other words, the gene for antibiotic resistance is spread in two different ways: inherited or exchanged.
The bacterias that contain these genes are then spread from point a to point b sharing this gene with the most amount of bacteria possible. When the plasmid, a small loop of genetic material that can be easily transferred between bacteria, is moved from one bacterium to another it provide a slew of different resistances making it the most dangerous way of creation. Furthermore,The spreading of the resistance gene is increasing at an incredible speed. According to the Center for Disease Control , in 2004, 63 percent of all reported staph infections in the United States were caused by antibiotic resistant bacterias. this is a remarkable 300 percent increase in just 10 years. In 1995, 22 percent of all reported staph infections were caused by resistant bacterias, compared to only 2 percent in
1974. Moreover,the dangers of Antibiotic resistance is exacerbating because of the over prescription of these medicines. With the resistance gene spreading to more and more bacteriums, more than 2,049,442 people are falling ill a year due to the antibacterials no longer being affective. On top of that gargantuan number of illnesses, over 23,000 people die a year with antibacterial resistance being the cause (Center for Disease Control). In addition, primary care and emergency room doctors are prescribing antibiotics for a common sore throat more than 70 percent of the time, according to national health surveys. Of these only 15 percent are necessary, contributing greatly to the rapid progression of resistant genes. This deadly thing known as antibiotic resistance can be reversed.To preserve the potency of existing antibiotics, overall antibiotic use must be decreased.
Physicians, pharmacists, and the general public must avoid careless use of these valuable drugs. Antibiotics must be prescribed only for bacterial infections and in the proper dose for the correct amount of time. Although it may take time, “ If the selective pressure that is applied by the presence of an antibiotic is removed, the bacterial population can potentially revert to a population of bacteria that responds to antibiotics” (Alliance for the Prudent use of Antibiotics). Selective pressure is the influence exerted by some factor (such as an antibiotic) on natural selection to promote one group of organisms over another (Web. MD). In plain english that is saying that if you take away the presence of antibacterial the resistance gene can no longer spread and will eventually die off. The general population, along with medical practitioners and the Food and Drug Administration, can all take steps to prevent and reduce antibiotic resistance. For the general population the main action to help prevent this cause would be to have good hygiene and live a healthy, smart lifestyle. Also, when a person is feeling a little under the weather they should not go running to a doctor looking for antibiotics to fix it all. In other words avoid antibiotics ( MAANVI SINGH).Surveys show that most doctor prescribe antibiotics when there is an alternative method of treatment because they feel it is what the parent/patient is expecting and wanting (Science Daily). When it comes to the actions medical professionals can take it is just as simple. Doctors can take the time to identify whether the infection is bacterial or viral and try there hardest to prescribe an alternative treatment or narrow spectrum antibiotic if an antibiotic is necessary (Alliance for the Prudent use of Antibiotics). Narrow spectrum antibiotics are are active against a select group of bacterial types. Meaning that instead of killing all types of bacteria, including the good, they will only be effective against certain bacteriums (Center for Disease Control). The Food and Drug Administration has now proposed a new plan addressing these nerve-racking issues. The Food and Drug Administration let out a press release saying, “The United States Food and Drug Administration today is implementing a plan to help phase out the use of medically important antimicrobials in food animals for food production purposes, such as to enhance growth or improve feed efficiency.” Many animals are treated with antibiotics for production purposes; Some of these antimicrobials are important drugs used to treat human infection. Prompting concerns about the contribution of this practice to increasing the ability of bacteria and other microbes to resist the effects of a drug. The FDA will also ”phase in veterinary oversight of the remaining appropriate therapeutic uses of such drugs.” Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration is planning on limiting the use of antibiotics that are “medically important” to being used only when necessary. The alarming complication that has arisen from the amazing creations of modern medicine is now being brought to the attention of the public. Antibiotic resistance can be avoided and decreased. By being more prudent society can avoid the unnecessary deaths that have been generated by the overuse of antibacterial, both for medical and produce reasons.
Final word count: 1210
Antibiotic Resistance Works Cited
"Antibiotic resistance." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily. .
"Antibiotics and Colds: When Do Antibiotics Work?" WebMD. WebMD. .
"Antibiotics Aren 't Always the Answer." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 16 Dec. 2013. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. .
"FDA plan addresses antibiotic resistance." The Nation 's Health Feb. 2014: 6. Gale Power Search. 6 Mar. 2014.
Medical News Today. 20 Apr. 2009. MediLexicon International. .
"The Problem of Antimicrobial Resistance." National Institute of Allgery and Infectious Diseases. 05 May 2006. .
Resnick, Brian. "What to Know About the Drug-Resistant Superbugs That Killed 23,000 Last Year." Nationaljournal.com 23 Sept. 2013. Gale Power Search. 4 Mar. 2014.
Singh, Maanvi. "Despite Many Warnings, Antibiotics Are Still Overprescribed." NPR. NPR. .
Tucker, Charlotte. "CDC says antibiotic-resistance poses threat, all must work to fight." The Nation 's Health November-December 2013: 7. Gale Power Search. 4 Mar. 2014.
"U.S. Food and Drug Administration." FDA takes significant steps to address antimicrobial resistance. .