Misuse Of Antibiotics Research Paper

Misuse of antibiotics is one major cause of the global health crisis of antibiotic resistance. Misuse or overuse can make supposedly harmful bacteria become “superbugs,” which are highly resistant to nearly all classes of antibacterial compounds. To determine the culprits, researchers at the Carolinas HealthCare System in North Carolina conducted a study to find the factors that led to the misuse of antibiotics.

Alexander Fleming invented the first antibiotic for humans called penicillin in 1928, while the use of antibiotics for treatment of animals was allowed in the 1980s, as long as it was under the supervision of a veterinarian. Several years went by and more agencies and institutions, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
This misleads people to immediately use antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections. Sufferers should be diagnosed first and if the diagnosis is a bacterial infection, then antibiotics may be used.

- Some people do not use the form of medication appropriate to the affected area. For instance, an individual with the swimmer’s ear should treat the condition using antibiotic eardrops, instead of oral antibiotics.

- Certain medical conditions, such as eczema, do not require immediate administration of antibiotics. Eczema is a skin condition that is generally characterized by dry skin and a broken skin barrier. It should be treated with proper lotions and other medications to alleviate related symptoms. Antibiotics may only be used if diagnosis confirms symptoms of a bacterial infection.

"Understanding the factors that impact prescribing is critical to determining how to reduce the misuse of antibiotics," said Melanie D. Spencer, Executive Director of Outcomes Research and Evaluation at Carolinas
Using the 1,000 per visit standard measurement, about 407 prescriptions per 1,000 were issued among four common respiratory conditions. Bronchitis has the highest prescription rate among the conditions at 703 prescriptions per 1,000 visits.

Bronchitis is the inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes due to infection. Typically, the respiratory disorder is caused by a viral infection like the common cold or influenza. Although bacteria can also cause the inflammation, about 90 percent of the cases are blamed on viruses. Antibiotics do not work on the virus that caused the disorder. The condition usually goes away on its own and treatments are focused on supportive care.

Another upper respiratory condition that should not be treated with antibiotics is sinusitis. It is usually triggered by the common cold and allergies. Viruses that can cause sinusitis include adenoviruses, human parainfluenza viruses, and enteroviruses, while allergens that can trigger it include pollens and dust particles. Bacteria, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, may also cause sinusitis, but antibiotics are only prescribed if the diagnosis confirms primary bacterial infection, not a viral