Antibiotics usage and Resistance

Antibiotics usage and Antibiotics Resistance – Things to know

  • Are you taking Antibiotics without Doctor’s Advice?
  • Are you taking Antibiotics for Fever?
  • What is Antibiotic Resistance? Why is it necessary to know about it?
  • How you become the reason for the world’s most pressing Health Problem?!
  • Are you living in a under developed or Developing Countries?

Read further to know about Antibiotic usage & Antibiotic resistance to take care of you and your loved ones.

Immune System in Simple Version:

Assume that our Immune system is King which is ruling our body. This king has two special Commandos named “B” Cells & “T” Cells who are powerful fighters in the Kingdom.

Microorganisms who is responsible for infection {Pathogens} is “Thug”. Thug may be Bacteria, Virus, Fungi, Protists or any pathogen. Thug has a special unique shield called “Antigen”.

When the thug enters in to the kingdom, King commands these 2 commandos to fight with the Thug.

B & T Commandos start analyzing, evaluating the thug & sending signals to everywhere. Meanwhile, “B” Commando produces “Antibodies”, specific to the shield of the Thug which enters in to field to fight against Thug. And meantime “B” commando stored the thug details in his memory for future reference. – This is called Acquired Immunity.

Eg. Once you got affected by Chicken pox, you will have lifelong Immunity.

During this time i.e at the time of evaluation, there are variety of chemical changes occur in our body which is shown as “Fever”. So Fever is the friendly mechanism which means our body is fighting against the infection.

Your body is having the capacity to heal itself if your immune system is strong.

Sometimes, Antibodies are not having enough power to fight against the Pathogens. During that time, Doctors advised Medicine to treat us.

Here Antibiotics are advised for treating Bacterial infection. Similarly, Anti-viral for Viral, Anti-Fungal for Fungus Infection. So, treatment is based on what kind of infection you are suffering!!. And that can be evaluated and diagnosed by Doctors.

Antibiotic Resistance:

Centre for Disease Control {CDC} narrates that “ Antibiotic Resistance is one of the world most pressing Public Health Problem”

Antibiotics fight Bacteria and Bacteria fight back and find new ways to survive. Bacteria develop resistance mechanisms by getting the genetic instructions i.e some bacteria can share DNA to other bacteria to make it resistant.

Simply saying, it just attacks by changing their structure. Antibiotics is designed for particular structure, this bacteria changes their identity to attack your body. So Antibiotics won’t work at that time. This defensive strategy of bacteria is Antibiotic Resistance.

“If we use Antibiotics when not needed, we may not have them when they are most needed”- Dr.TomFrieden, Director U.S CDC

To learn how to use Antibiotics, one must first learn how not to use Antibiotics – Unknown

Bacteria is good for you!! To know, Click here

Some Examples of Antibiotics Resistance:

In 1940s, Doctors used to treat Staphylococcus Aureus bacterial infection with “Penicillin”. But misuse and overuse of this drug leads to resistance of Penicillin by 1950s.

Then Doctors started using “Methicillin” to counter the difficult problem of Penicillin resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.

Again because of the misuse & Overuse, “MRSA – Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus” Strain evolved around 1960s. It is resistant to entire class of Penicillin like Antibiotics.

Things to note here, within one decades these bacteria started changing as the process of defensive strategy.

Just thing about this, What will happen?

These resistant bacteria tend to multiply and spread, until the development of next generation  Antibiotics.

That’s why, there is a struggle in treating certain bacterial infection especially Pneumonia.

Taken Point:

  1. Don’t take Antibiotics until unless it is indicated or advised by your Physician
  2. Don’t insist Doctors to prescribe Antibiotics to hasten recovery.{Attention Parents!!}
  3. Follow the same dose which is advised by your Doctors.
  4. Don’t share leftover Antibiotics to your Friends or Family members.
  5. Share this importance to others.
  6. Pharmacist & Pharmacy Employees should have a brief knowledge and awareness about Antibiotics Resistance and formulate policies and protocols to regulate and promote the appropriate use.
  7. Know about OTC medicines.

What is OTC medicines?:

OTC – Over to counter Medicine or Non-Prescription Medicine. i.e Medicine which may not need Doctor’s prescription which you can buy in Pharmacy directly.

List of OTC medicine- Click here

Take care of your Nation by taking care of your Health!!

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