Antibiotic Resistance: What You Need to Know
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ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), antibiotic resistance occurs when germs such as bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them. Antibiotics are drugs that aim to eliminate the microorganisms responsible for many infections. Nowadays, increasing antibiotic resistance is becoming a public health issue, while the number of effective antibiotics is decreasing.
A NATURAL RESPONSE For millions of years, antibiotic resistance has been a natural response that acts as a protective survival mechanism in environmental bacteria. This mechanism consists of a series of mutations in the bacterial chromosome. For example, the bacteria known as Streptococcus pneumoniae can develop resistance to penicillins. Likewise, antibiotic resistance in Enterococcus species such as E. faecalis and E. faecium was a significant health issue during the 1980s, when they began displaying high resistance to vancomycin.
The Use of Antibiotics Worldwide The World Health Organization (WHO) affirms that all countries must change the way they prescribe and use antibiotics. This is because the misuse and overuse of antibiotics are increasing antibiotic resistance. It is worth noting that resistance to antibiotics is emerging and spreading all around the globe. For this reason, it impedes the effective treatment of infectious diseases.
Side Effects On the other hand, the threat of antibiotic resistance can be aggravated by the side effects they can produce. According to some studies, about 10 percent of people who take antibiotics may experience diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, allergic reactions, and thrush infections.
Prevention It is vital to be aware of the most common mistakes and misconceptions people make about antibiotics. In the first instance, experts do not recommend the use of antibiotics if they are not needed. Likewise, if your child is experiencing a new infection, you should not use old packs of antibiotics.
It is important to note that antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections, and they can not fight viral infections like colds or the flu. Also, you must follow the dosage and directions prescribed by your pediatrician. Otherwise, bacteria in the body system may become resistant.
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