Antibiotic Resistance: A Lost Cure Unless We Act Responsibly

Bacterial infections have plagued humankind throughout history. Ever since the discovery of penicillin, antibiotics have saved countless lives and improved the lives of many others.

But Fleming himself had predicted: “The time may come when anyone can buy penicillin in the shops. Then there is the danger that the ignorant man may easily underdose himself and by exposing his microbes to non-lethal quantities of the drug make them resistant.”

He made that prophecy back in 1945, however now antibiotic resistance isn’t a future threat, it is here and very much present. 

In the pre-antibiotic era, populations succumbed to simple cuts and scrapes. Childbirth and surgical procedures were much more life-threatening. Tuberculosis is a classic example of what happened before antibiotics. The treatment was fresh air and bed rest in a sanatorium. If you were lucky, your immune system could resolve it and you’re cured. If not, you get worse and you die. 

Antibiotic Resistance

Resistance to antibiotics is what happens when the microbes in our body resist the effects of antibiotics. Blame it on evolution and natural selection though we are also partially to blame for this. 

Antibiotic resistance is predicted to kill 10 million people globally by the year 2050. The unpleasant truth is that our use or rather misuse has fuelled this silent tsunami and dissolved the efficacy of antibiotics. Worldwide, the use of antibiotics is extensive, in sectors ranging from agriculture to medicine.

Not only has the consumption of antibiotics increased by 35%, but the demand for it also continues to rise. A whopping 75% of patients have been inappropriately given antibiotics for colds. Why inappropriate you might ask ? Because antibiotics don’t cure colds which is predominantly due to viruses. 

In addition, we have also reached the tipping point where antibiotic-resistant bacteria are spreading faster than we can develop new antibiotic medicines making this an even bigger public health challenge.

Resistance does not respect borders – one originating in one place could rapidly spread worldwide. 

Hence, it’s up to all of us to be more responsible when consuming antibiotics- medical practitioners adhering clinical guidelines and patients finishing the prescribed course of antibiotics. Unless we act now, the global pandemic that is antibiotic resistance can grow to a larger scale and eventually claim the lives of many from the simplest of infections. 

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Reference: 

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antibiotic-resistance

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