Superbugs

July 6, 2017 12:55 pm Published by

By: Jennifer Madeo, D.O., Ph.D.

Sometimes referred to as the war between the “BUGS and DRUGS”, resistant germs cause bacterial infections that are no longer cured by common antibiotics. This is an important public health problem that can affect everyone in the community. When these germs cause infection, doctors can be forced to use less effective, more toxic and more expensive drugs. The inability to cure the infection in one person allows it to spread among the community. The spread can occur even among people who do not have symptoms. Thus it is important to clean your hands, especially before eating and after being around others who may be sick. It is especially important to wash hands after being around hospitals, schools, daycare centers and nursing homes.

Part of the problem actually stems from the overuse of the antibiotics. The usage of antibiotics for viral infections, or even for patients who feel ill but are unlikely to have an infection fuels the growth of more resistant bacteria. The health department, CDC and hospitals are working together to restrict antibiotics only for patients with appropriate bacterial infections.

Patients can play an important role by not demanding antibiotics when doctors do not feel they are needed. It is also important to only take antibiotics prescribed to you. Do not take antibiotics prescribed to someone else or allow someone else to take your antibiotics. Also important is completing the entire course of antibiotics that you are given. If you only partially treat your infection, the germs that survive can become resistant.  This can occur even if you feel better.

Unfortunately the discovery of new antibiotics is not keeping pace with the rapid rates of resistant bacteria. By proper use of the antibiotics that we do have, we can help preserve their effectiveness. This is vital to protecting the health of our community.

Jennifer Madeo, D.O., Ph.D

Infectious Disease

Magnolia Regional Health Center

This post was written by Magnolia Regional Health Center