Antibiotics are medicines prescribed by your doctor to treat infections caused by bacteria. They kill the bacteria to prevent them from worsening your condition. However, not all antibiotics work for every individual. There are times when antibiotics can no longer serve its purpose. This is what we refer to as antibiotic resistance.
Orlando Pharmacy, an Affordable Pharmacy in Orlando, Florida, expounds more about the facts surrounding antibiotic resistance. Read on to find out more.
- Do antibiotics kill bacteria and virus?
Antibiotics can only treat infections caused by bacteria, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and urinary tract infection. When you get an infection caused by a virus, such as cold and flu, no antimicrobial drugs can help you.
- What is antibiotic resistance?
As answered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacteria to resist the effects of an antimicrobial drug. This happens when the bacteria change in a way that reduces the effectiveness of drugs, chemicals, or other agents designed to cure or prevent infections. As a consequence, the bacteria survive and continue to spread, causing further complications to your body.
- Should you worry about developing antibiotic resistance?
Antibiotic resistance continues to be one of the world’s pressing public health concerns. In the United States, it has been reported that more than two million people are ill annually with antibiotic-resistant infections. As a result, over twenty thousand people are dying. Also, it is noteworthy to emphasize that bacteria can spread from one person to another. It can spread to people who have a low immune system, especially children and seniors.
- What causes antibiotic resistance?
Antibiotic resistance is brought about by many things. But the most common culprits of it are the following:
- Unnecessary prescription. Some doctors prescribe antibiotics to their patients for viral infections. Again, antibiotics can only treat bacterial infections.
- Too much use of antibiotics. Taking too many antimicrobial drugs can make the bacteria resistant to it. As brilliantly explained by the CDC, “Every time a person takes antibiotics, bacteria that antibiotics can still attack are killed, but resistant bacteria are left to grow and multiply.”
- Inadequate use of antibiotics. Not taking antibiotics as prescribed can also develop antibiotic resistance. It is essential that you respect the right dosage and duration of the treatment as prescribed by your doctor.
- If I develop an antibiotic resistance, does that mean that my condition can no longer be treated?
The good news is that there is still hope to treat your condition. There are many antibiotics available, those that are ingested and those that are injected. Your doctor can identify what drug can work against your resistant bacteria. They can identify this by letting you go through a laboratory exam.
Before you take an antibiotic, make sure you know the essential information about it. You can ask your pharmacist regarding your concerns. Orlando Pharmacy is a Retail Pharmacy in Orlando, Florida. We are open for consultations. For a schedule, feel free to contact us at 407-898-1331
