Antibiotic resistance is a phenomenon that occurs when bacteria evolve to resist the effects of antibiotics.
This renders once effective treatments for bacterial infections useless, leading to longer, more complicated illnesses, high health care costs, and even death.
Dr Ajay Agarwal, Director of Internal Medicine at Fortis Hospital, Noida (India) – said that infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria are harder to treat, spread more easily and may require more toxic and expensive treatments.
If antibiotic resistance continues to increase, even routine medical procedures such as surgery or intensive care could become life-threatening due to the inability to control infections.
Causes of antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance occurs primarily due to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. When antibiotics are used unnecessarily or not as prescribed, bacteria are exposed to these drugs, giving them the opportunity to adapt and develop resistance.
These resistant bacteria can then multiply and spread to other bacteria, making future infections more difficult to treat.
Dr Tushar Tayal, Internal Medicine Physician at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram (India) - explains that although it is impossible to completely prevent antibiotic resistance due to the natural evolution of microorganisms, there are ways to slow down the rise of this condition.
Patients can reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and increase infection prevention measures during health care.
How to prevent antibiotic resistance
Use antibiotics responsibly: Only take antibiotics when prescribed by your doctor and always take the full course of treatment, even if you feel better.
Avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics: Antibiotics should not be requested to treat viral infections, such as the common cold or flu, because antibiotics are not effective against viruses.
Practice good hygiene: Washing hands regularly, preparing food properly, and maintaining good hygiene can help prevent infections, thereby reducing the need for antibiotics.
Vaccination: Get vaccinated to prevent infections.
Avoid antibiotic overuse in animals: Choose food products from sources that do not overuse antibiotics in animal feed, as this practice can promote antibiotic resistance in humans.
