Imagine that you have a common illness like a urinary tract infection (UTI). Or that you have pneumonia. Now imagine that no medicine the doctor gives you can cure it. This is really scary to think about, isn't it? That's exactly the kind of serious condition we're going to talk about today. This is called antibiotic resistance.
First of all, what are these antibiotics?
Simply put, antibiotics are a type of medicine that treats infections caused by bacteria . Their discovery revolutionized medicine. They saved millions of lives that would have otherwise been lost to bacterial infections. Even today, we recover quickly after surgery or when we have a serious infection thanks to antibiotics.
But the most important thing here is that antibiotics only work on bacteria. Antibiotics do not cure diseases caused by viruses , such as colds, common colds, and dengue fever.
So, what is this antibiotic resistance?
It's a very simple concept. When we use antibiotics over and over again, especially when they're not needed, bacteria learn to fight off these drugs. Just as we lock our doors and windows when a burglar breaks into our house, bacteria mutate their genes to escape antibiotics, or they acquire genes from other bacteria.
When bacteria become 'smart' in this way, the antibiotics we usually give them no longer work. That's what we call `Antibiotic Resistance'. It's like a bacteria that has gained superpowers, like the emergence of a superbug.
Why is this important to us? Why should we be afraid of this?
This is a really serious issue that affects all of us. Think about things like this:
- Even common illnesses become more severe: A urinary tract infection, skin infection, or pneumonia that used to get better in two or three days becomes incurable.
- Treatment becomes difficult: Doctors have to give you very strong, expensive antibiotics. Sometimes these have to be given intravenously. This increases the length of your hospital stay.
- Other patients are also at risk: People with weakened immune systems, such as those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, dialysis patients, and those undergoing major surgery, are at higher risk of developing infections. We use antibiotics to protect them from infections. But if those antibiotics don't work, even the lives of those patients can be at risk.
This has become a major problem worldwide. Even in a developed country like the United States, about 2.8 million people develop such resistant infections every year, and more than 35,000 die. This situation is gradually increasing in Sri Lanka as well.
| Disease/condition | Pathogen | Will it be cured with antibiotics? |
|---|---|---|
| Cold, common cold, sore throat (most common) | Virus | No. Taking antibiotics will not cure these, and will only cause harm. |
| Urinary tract infections, pneumonia, skin abscesses, tetanus | Bacteria | Yes. It can be cured with prescribed antibiotics if prescribed by a doctor. |
How do we deal with this? Things we can do
Although this is a big problem, there are many things we can do individually to control this situation. This is the responsibility of all of us.
1. Don't take antibiotics unnecessarily.
The biggest mistake is to go to the pharmacy and ask for antibiotics as soon as you have a cold or a fever, or to force the doctor to prescribe antibiotics. Remember, antibiotics are useless against viral diseases like the common cold. So, the next time you get sick, ask yourself, "Doctor, do I really need antibiotics?"
2. You must complete the course of medicine!
This is the most important thing. If the doctor prescribes medicine for 5 or 7 days, you need to take it for that number of days, at the right time, and in the right dosage.
Imagine this is a war. When you take medicine, a lot of the enemies (bacteria) die. You feel better in about two days. But there are still some weak enemies hiding. If you stop taking the medicine, the hidden ones become strong again, and now they have learned to resist the medicine. The medicine will not work for you next time. So, even if you feel better, complete the course of medicine.
3. Don't use other people's medicine.
It is very dangerous to take leftover antibiotics given to a family member when they become sick. Not every infection is treated the same way. And the dosages are different. Therefore, never use someone else's medicine.
4. Get vaccinated
We have vaccines to protect us from many bacterial infections, such as tetanus and whooping cough. By getting these vaccines, we can prevent those infections from occurring. Then we won't need antibiotics.
5. Be careful about cleanliness in a hospital
Hospitals are a common place for these superbugs. Ask those who visit you to keep their hands clean. Make sure doctors and nurses wash their hands before treating you. Ask for advice on how to keep your wound clean after surgery.
Antibiotics are one of the most valuable resources in our healthcare system. If we don't use them responsibly, even a common infection could become fatal in the future.
This is a challenge that we must face individually and collectively. We must not leave our own children a future without medicine because of our ignorance. Therefore, let us all be aware of this and act responsibly.
Take-Home Message
- Not all illnesses, especially viral infections like the common cold, require antibiotics.
- Only take antibiotics if prescribed by a doctor, exactly as he or she tells you, and for the full duration of the course.
- Do not stop taking the prescription even if you feel better.
- Never use your own or someone else's leftover antibiotics.
- Get the necessary vaccinations and take care of cleanliness to prevent bacterial infections.
- If you have any concerns about this, talk openly with your family doctor.
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