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At any given time, we are in contact with millions of bacteria; some of these bacteria are beneficial to us, while others are not. On occasion, the harmful bacteria are allowed access to our bodies and begin to replicate. Subsequently, we become sick and visit the doctor who prescribes an antibiotic. The antibiotic enters our system and destroys all of the bacteria it comes in contact with, including the good bacteria that helps the body fight off disease. Occasionally, some bacteria survive due to a mutation in their genetic make-up; natural selection through mutation has allowed these bacteria to survive and ultimately replicate their DNA. The resistant bacteria pass on the antibiotic resistant trait and the population grows rapidly. This is the beginning of a new strain of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Antibiotic resistant bacteria are a growing public health concern; people in communities everywhere contribute to this matter. In the medical community, doctors are a large part of this dilemma when they over prescribing antibiotics. This can occur when an antibiotic is prescribed for a viral infection, since antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, or when an antibiotic is prescribed in error for an illness that does not require antibiotics. As patients, individuals have come to expect a prescription medication when visiting the doctor, especially antibiotics when they feel sick; taking antibiotics when they are not needed increases the likelihood of promoting resistance. Additionally, those individuals that are prescribed antibiotics correctly contribute to this problem when they do not finish the course of antibiotics correctly. In this case, the antibiotics are not able to work properly and promote antibiotic resistant bacteria.
In order to slow down or prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria everyone must contribute in the reduction of risk factors. Doctors must limit their use of antibiotic medications to the appropriate situations and be diligent about prescribing the correct antibiotic treatment. Patients should not expect a prescription each time they visit the doctor and should be sure to finish any antibiotic treatments correctly. As an individual, in order to reduce the risk of infection, good hygiene and illness prevention measures, such as hand washing and safe food handling, are essential. Antibiotic resistant bacteria can be passed between individuals in a community and patients in a hospital rapidly; therefore, each of us must do our part to reduce the risks as described above.
References
Better Health Channel. (2015). Antibiotic resistant bacteria. Victoria State Government. Retrieved 1 July 2016, from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/antibiotic-resistant-bacteria
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Antibiotic/Antimicrobial Resistance. CDC.gov. Retrieved 1 July 2016, from http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/about.html