Prevent Antibiotic Resistant Infection The problem with antibiotic resistance is a lot like the problem with climate change. It’s a collective responsibility. At the individual level, what does it matter that one person drives a car, or takes an antibiotic it turns out he didn’t need? There’s a lack of incentives that each of us has to really do the right thing. And when we don’t, we’re just hosts for these bacteria to rule around. How Does Antibiotic Resistance Occur? There are a variety of ways in which antibiotic resistance can occur. Many epidemiological studies have confirmed a direct link between antibiotic consumption and the increase in resistant bacteria strains. This means that the more antibiotics are being used, the more these bugs are able to adapt.Overuse of antibiotics is a leading cause of resistance as antibiotics are often incorrectly prescribed. Misuse of antibiotics such as discontinuing the dosage before the full course of antibiotics is complete and deregulated antibiotic products being sold online are the leading causes of antibiotic resistance in today’s society. Antibiotics are widely used in both developed and underdeveloped nations as growth supplements in livestock. How big is the problem? US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in the US alone there are about 23,000 people who die every year from antibiotic-resistant infections. For example, they estimate that resistance to antibiotics that treat Clostridium difficile causes almost 500,000 infections in the US every year, which lead to about 15,000 deaths. Meanwhile, a 2015 study published in Nature found that global antibiotic consumption went up 30% between 2000 and 2010. What Happens If I Become Resistant To Antibiotics? If you become resistant to some bacteria that are treated with the use of antibiotics, you may experience the following outcomes:
●an infection for a longer period of time, ●You may be at a higher risk of having complications and secondary illnesses as a result of the bacteria's inability to be destroyed, ●You may remain infectious to both yourself and to others for a longer period of time, which will increase the overall problem of antibiotic resistance. Ways You Can Prevent Antibiotic Resistance: There are many ways that you can protect yourself from antibiotic resistance including: ●If you are experiencing a common cold or flu, this does not typically require antibiotics as this is a viral infection, not a bacterial infection. ●Another tip is to suggest to your doctor that you only want to use antibiotics if absolutely necessary. ●If you choose to eat animal products, ensure you are purchasing from an organic farmer.The World Health Organization have released a document stating that antibiotics and other pharmaceutical drugs are being found in our water supply! To avoid this, installing a water filter is a solution that you can implement at home. With all of these programs working together, and similar efforts taking place around the world, there is a lot of hope that humanity will manage to get a handle on the problem. Still, we can only really slow the development of resistance. We’re not going to stop it completely. Even appropriate use of antibiotics does contribute to resistance. And that means the challenge will always be immense. As long as there are humans and those humans carry and transmit disease the entire world will have to continue fighting for resistance.