Antibiotics: Enemy or friend? | 4 min read

Two of the most important are antibiotics and vaccines. Antibiotics have been one of medicine’s greatest success stories, saving countless lives and conquering such dreaded diseases as syphilis, gonorrhoea, tuberculosis, gangrene, pneumonia, diphtheria, and scarlet fever since their discovery. It is estimated that penicillin has saved at least 200 million lives since its first use as a medicine in 1942. However, we now face a growing challenge: antibiotic resistance. It is time to rethink the why, when and what of antibiotic use in order to ward off a global health crisis.

What are antibiotics and how do they work?

Antibiotics are powerful medicines that fight certain infections caused by bacteria. When we take antibiotics, they work in two main ways: some kill bacteria directly (like soldiers attacking invaders), while others stop bacteria from growing and multiplying (like putting up a barrier). Unfortunately, decades of overuse created new antibiotic-resistant “superbugs”, which are resistant to several types of antibiotics.

What is antibiotic resistance?

Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria learn to fight back against the medicines designed to kill them. When this happens, the antibiotics that once worked stop being effective.

This resistance can develop in several ways:

• When we take antibiotics too often
• When we don’t finish our prescribed antibiotic course
• When antibiotics are used in food animals
• When bacteria naturally develop changes in their genes

When bacteria become resistant, they can share their resistance abilities with other bacteria, making the problem even bigger. This means that infections that were once easy to treat might now need stronger antibiotics or, in some cases, might become untreatable.

Do you really think you need a prescription for antibiotics?

Think again. Up to 50% of antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary. The biggest threat to antibiotic effectiveness is overuse, especially when people take them for viral infections like the common cold. Antibiotics are bacterial fighters, not virus warriors. When we use them unnecessarily, we’re actually helping harmful bacteria become stronger and more resistant to these important medicines.

It’s important to understand that antibiotics only work against bacterial infections. They cannot fight infections caused by viruses, such as:

• The common cold
• Most sore throats
• The flu
• Most cases of chest colds (bronchitis)

When prescribed correctly, antibiotics can treat many dangerous infections, including:

• Strep throat
• Urinary tract infections
• Some ear infections
• Serious skin infections

This is why doctors need to be sure an infection is caused by bacteria before prescribing antibiotics. Taking antibiotics when they’re not needed won’t help you feel better and can actually cause harm.

Trust your doctor’s diagnosis

Your doctor may be able to determine whether an illness is viral or bacterial by listening to your medical history, doing a physical exam and assessing your symptoms.

A viral infection usually presents with flu-like symptoms like:

• body pain
• headaches
• abdominal pain
• watery diarrhoea and
• a clear runny nose
  
  

Antibiotics are not effective against viral infection. Children and adults respond well to over-the-counter (OTC) medicine containing paracetamol, anti-inflammatories and antihistamines as well as other remedies to help them feel better like rest, keeping hydrated, saline nasal sprays, and humidifiers.

Call your doctor if you or your loved one still feel sick or seem to be getting worse.

Patients should be 24-hours temperature (fever) free before they can return to school or work.

A bacterial infection typically presents with symptoms like:

• an abnormally smelly breath
• constant sore throat
• painful ears
• sticky eyes
• discoloured mucus
• shortness of breath
• burning urine
• bloody stool
• neck stiffness
• headaches accompanied by vomiting, as well as
• fevers lasting longer than 3 days

When you’re diagnosed with a bacterial infection, the benefits of taking an antibiotic outweigh the risks. But if you have a viral infection, taking an antibiotic will not clear up the condition and it does more harm than good. Don’t insist on a prescription for an antibiotic if you have a viral infection. Trust your doctor’s diagnosis and rather just wait and see.

How prevalent is antibiotic resistance?

Antibiotic resistance has become a serious global health threat. Scientists predict that without action, antibiotic resistance could cause up to 10 million deaths globally each year by 2050. This would make it more deadly than cancer. The problem affects everyone:

• Patients needing surgery
• People receiving cancer treatment
• Those with chronic conditions
• Even healthy people getting common infections

The economic impact is also significant, with billions spent each year on treating resistant infections and lost productivity.

What can we do about antibiotic resistance?

Combating antibiotic resistance requires effort from everyone. Here’s what we can do as individuals:

1. Only take antibiotics when prescribed by a healthcare professional.
2. Always complete the full course of antibiotics as directed.
3. Never share antibiotics or use leftover antibiotics.
4. Prevent infections through good hygiene (like regular handwashing) and staying up to date with vaccinations.

Healthcare providers can:

1. Only prescribe antibiotics when truly necessary.
2. Choose the right antibiotic for the specific infection.
3. Educate patients about proper antibiotic use and the risks of resistance.

Governments and industries are also taking action:

1. Implementing better policies to control antibiotic use in humans and animals.
2. Investing in research for new antibiotics and alternative treatments.
3. Improving infection control in healthcare settings.
4. Increasing public awareness about antibiotic resistance.

Preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics is everyone’s responsibility. By working together, we can slow down the spread of antibiotic resistance and protect these life-saving medicines for future generations.

Reviewed: November 2024