Antibiotic resistance: a hidden health crisis

What is antibiotic resistance?

Antibiotics are medicines designed to treat or prevent bacterial infections. They do this by destroying bacteria, or stopping them from reproducing.

Sakib Mohammed, Pharmacist and Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Click2Pharmacy, Oldham, England explains that antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria adapt to survive medicines meant to kill them, making infections tougher to fight.

For this reason, healthcare professionals are limiting antibiotic use for minor illnesses. They are no longer commonly prescribed to people with chest infections, sore throats, or children with ear infections.

What causes antibiotic resistance?

Antibiotics only work against bacterial infections. They don't work against viral or fungal infections. However, antibiotics are becoming less effective against the infections they're meant to treat.

There are several reasons for this.

Overuse and misuse

The more you use antibiotics, the more you'll become resistant to them. This is why it's important to avoid taking them unnecessarily - especially for viral infections.

Mohammed says: "Not finishing a prescription gives bacteria more chances to survive and adapt. Bacteria also naturally mutate. Those with mutations that resist antibiotics multiply, making infections harder to treat over time."

Superbugs

Overuse of antibiotics has resulted in superbugs - bacterial strains resistant to antibiotic treatments.

These infections - which can lead to death or disability - are increasingly resistant to treatment, posing a significant global health threat. Of extra concern, is that new, more resistant strains may develop.

Use in hospitals

Hospitals are a breeding ground for infections. If you've been in hospital, you're more likely to get an infection - especially if you have a weakened immune system. This may require antibiotics, which can cause antibiotic-resistant microorganisms to thrive.

Use in agriculture

Many farmers give antibiotics to their animals to keep them healthy and help them grow faster. While some debate remains among scientists, many agree that this contributes to high rates of antibiotic resistance in farm animals.

Mohammed says: "This can lead to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria to people through food, water, and the environment."

Poor hygiene

Germs spread easily through person-to-person contact, interaction with animals, food consumption, close contact in healthcare settings, and poor hygiene and sanitation practices. With modern travel, an antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) threat in one location can quickly become a global issue.

What are the implications of antibiotic resistance?

The growing rate of antibiotic resistance is making infections harder to treat, prolonging illness, and requiring stronger medicines with greater side effects.

"On a larger scale, resistance complicates routine treatments and surgeries, putting strain on healthcare resources as patients need extended hospital stays," says Mohammed. "Sadly, it also leads to higher death rates, as there are fewer effective treatment options."

How are antibiotics-resistant infections treated?

To treat antibiotic-resistant infections, healthcare providers may try different types of antibiotics before exploring other treatment options.

Mohammed says this can cause more side effects - or further resistance - so depending on the person, they might explore other options such as vaccines or immune-boosting treatments.

"The big challenges are that fewer effective antibiotics exist," he explains. "The bacteria are evolving faster than we can create new medicines to combat them."

How to prevent antibiotic resistance

Preventing antibiotic resistance is complex, as it's influenced by a number of factors.

Mohammed says: "Public health campaigns encouraging people to use antibiotics only when necessary will help. Ensuring that your vaccinations - and those of your family members - are up to date is another important step."

He adds that reducing antibiotic use in farm animals can also help prevent resistant bacteria from reaching people.

Everyday habits can also play a crucial role in reducing the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These include practising good hand hygiene, preparing food safely, and maintaining clean environments.

Mohammed concludes: "It’s easy to think this is a government-level problem and not something people can individually help with. But that's not true. By only using antibiotics when you really need them, and finishing the full prescription, you are helping."