Antibiotics are a large group of chemical substances, produced by microorganisms and fungi that have the capacity in diluting solutions to inhibit the growth or destroy microorganisms. This drug is used to treat bacterial infections and has no effect on viral infections such as a cold, the flu, and most coughs. Today, antibiotics are one of the most common drugs that is being used in medicine and help in the making of complex surgeries that have become most common around the world. Used incorrectly or too frequently antibiotic resistance can develop such as in the emerging cases of C.difficile which is, primarily, an easily spread type of diarrhea that can lead to complications in the colon. C.difficile is now known as one of ten ‘superbugs’ because of a consistent presence in hospitals around the world. Although C. difficile is not currently significantly resistant to antibiotics used in treatment, it was recently included in the CDC threat assessment because of its unique relationship with resistance issues, antibiotic use, and its high rate of morbidity and mortality. Several significant outbreaks of C.difficile have made the news despite a major effort in improving hygiene in hospitals. The bacteria is responsible for a significant number of deaths globally. The chance of catching C. Difficile is actually increased by exposure to antibiotics – you are more likely to get ill from C.difficile if your internal balance has been upset and the bacteria can exploit this.
Infections account for many deaths in the world as it continues to develop and grow. Mainly due to the emergence of new bacteria and due to antibiotic resistance. Over time bacteria have become more and more resilient and with that also the misuse of antibiotics has resulted in bacteria becoming more resistant to antibiotics. Many antibiotics are prescribed in doctors offices, clinics and other outpatient facility settings but are not really needed but with time doctors and patients as well, are learning about antibiotic resistance and if antibiotics are used correctly less deaths could occur but antibiotic resistance is a naturally occurring phenomenon although it can be slowed, it can not be stopped [10]. Over time, bacteria adapt to the drugs that are designed to kill them and change to ensure their survival. This makes previously standard treatments for bacterial infections less effective, and in some cases, ineffective.
They do this by attacking the wall or coating surrounding bacteria, interfering with bacteria reproduction and blocking protein production in bacteria [11]. So the action of an antibiotic generally falls within one of four mechanisms, three of which involve the inhibition or regulation of enzymes involved in cell wall biosynthesis, nucleic acid metabolism and repair, or protein synthesis, respectively. The fourth mechanism involves the disruption of membrane structure. Many of these cellular functions targeted by antibiotics are most active in multiplying cells. Since there is often overlap in these functions between prokaryotic bacterial cells and eukaryotic mammalian cells, it is not surprising that some antibiotics have also been found to be useful as anticancer agents [9].
When discussing antibiotic resistance which is the ability of bacteria and other microorganisms to resist the effects of an antibiotic to which they were once sensitive, it is important to discuss the emerging cases of Clostridium difficile. Clostridium difficile, a spore-forming bacterium, also known as C.difficile and C.diff, is primarily an easily spread type of diarrhea that can lead to complications in the colon and can be fatal [1]. Symptoms include not only watery diarrhea, but also fever, nausea, and abdominal pain [2]. This infection makes up about 20% of cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea with complications that may include pseudomembranous colitis, toxic megacolon, perforation of the colon, and sepsis [1]. C.difficile is now known as one of ten ‘superbugs’ because of a consistent presence in hospitals around the world. Although C. difficile is not currently significantly resistant to antibiotics used in treatment, it was recently included in the CDC threat assessment because of its unique relationship with resistance issues, antibiotic use, and its high rate of morbidity and mortality [3].
C. difficile causes diarrhea linked to at least 14,000 American deaths each year . When a person takes antibiotics, good bacteria that protect against infection are destroyed for several months . During this time, patients can get sick from C. difficile picked up from contaminated surfaces or spread from a healthcare provider’s hands . Those most at risk are people, especially older adults, who take antibiotics and also get medical care.
When one takes an antibiotic, it enters the bloodstream and travels through the body killing bacteria but not human cells. There are similarities between bacteria and human cells, but there are also many differences as well to not destroy human cells. The mechanism of antibiotics is to affect things that bacterial cells have but that human cells do not have. For instance, human cells do not have cell walls, while many types of bacteria do have cell walls. The antibiotic penicillin, for example, works by keeping a bacterium from building a cell wall. Bacteria and human cells also differ in the structure of their cell membranes and the way they build proteins or copy DNA. Some antibiotics dissolve the membrane of bacterial cells, while others affect protein-building or DNA-copying machinery that is specific to bacteria [4].
There are few differences, as well, between harmful and friendly bacteria cells, and antibiotics kill not only the bad bacteria that may be making someone sick, but it will also kill the body’s friendly bacteria. These friendly bacteria help keep someone healthy in many ways by fighting infection, so when antibiotics kill this friendly bacteria, a person can suffer because they lose these beneficial bacteria. This is because losing friendly bacteria can give other types of bacteria room to multiply or disturbs the balance of resident microbes leading to opportunistic infection like with C.diff after use of antibiotics. When antibiotics kill too many friendly bacteria in the intestine, C. difficile multiplies and produces toxins that make the person sick with symptoms like fever, nausea, diarrhea, and inflammation. Simply stated in “Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2013” guide, “Simply using antibiotics creates resistance [5].”
Every time someone takes an antibiotic they don’t need or incorrectly, they increase their risk of developing a resistant infection in the future. Therefore it is important for individuals to take antibiotics properly. Antibiotics can interact with other drugs patients take, making those drugs or the antibiotics less effective. Some drug combinations can worsen the side effects of the antibiotic or other drugs. Patients, therefore, should follow the recommendations on the prescription bottles, completing the entire medication as prescribed. If needed, patients can use information at the CDC website. The CDC has provided a campaign called “Be Antibiotics Aware” that is a national effort to help fight antibiotic resistance and improve antibiotic prescribing and use [8]. Antibiotics can interact with other drugs patients take, making those drugs or the antibiotics less effective . Some drug combinations can worsen the side effects of the antibiotic or other drug . Common side effects of antibiotics include nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain . Sometimes these symptoms can lead to dehydration and other problems . Patients should ask their doctors about drug interactions and the potential side effects of antibiotics . The doctor should be told immediately if a patient has any side effects from antibiotics . Take antibiotics exactly and only as prescribed .
In today’s society, there is a major concern that antibiotics are being overused or misused. This overuse or misuse is thought to be contributed towards the growing number of bacterial infections that are becoming resistant to antibacterial medications. The discovery and development of the antibiotic penicillin in the 1920s made a big impact on human history. It led not only to a cure for bacterial infections that were once deadly, but it also made a way to discover new antibiotics. With many overused or misused, a rapid this modern day miracle has been set back with antibiotic resistance. This has been seen with the thousands of significant outbreaks of C.difficile yearly.
d cost of resistance.
When people take antibiotics often or for long periods of time, the risk for long-term health issues increases. People that do this are more susceptible to antibiotic resistance and are causing more harm to themselves by simply upsetting the balance of resident microbes. This can have a complex impact on health that goes beyond increasing vulnerability to infections because of the frequent use of medicines when not needed bacteria can and will change in the response to the medicine.Patients who do not take an antibiotic for a viral infection like a cold or the flu can recover quickly. People should not save any antibiotic for the next time they get sick and should always throw away any medication that is leftover once they have completed course of treatment. So only take an antibiotic exactly as the healthcare provider tells you. In conclusion the good news is healthy people who take infrequent, short courses of antibiotics usually recover rather quickly.