What you should know about antibiotic resistance

Get Smart About Antibiotics Week occurs each November to raise awareness of the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic prescribing and usage.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 2 million Americans become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Statistics also show that 23,000 people die as a direct result of those infections.

Dr. James Malow, an infectious disease and internal medicine physician with Advocate Medical Group in Chicago, says antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria that causes infections become resistant to common antibiotics typically used to treat the patient.

“Antibiotic resistance occurs when the bacteria in our body is exposed to the antibiotic multiple times, which causes them to develop resistance to that medication over time,” he says. “The more exposure to antibiotics you incur, the more likely your body becomes resistant to them.”

Dr. Malow says the increased exposure to antibiotics causes the bacteria to change its genetic makeup in order to survive.

Antibiotics are the most commonly prescribed drug. According to the CDC, up to 50 percent of prescriptions are either not necessary or not optimally prescribed.

The White House recently announced an executive order declaring that the federal government will work domestically and internationally to detect, prevent and control illnesses and deaths related to antibiotic-resistant infections.

In 2015, the CDC is dedicating their time to antibiotic stewardship in the community. Antibiotic stewardship involves the development, promotion and implementation of activities to ensure the appropriate use of antibiotics.

Through this program, the CDC is hoping to educate the community on how antibiotics are used, as well as improve the prescription process. The organization also hopes to slow the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections.

Dr. Malow suggests these tips in order to help prevent antibiotic resistance:

• Patients and doctors should work together. Viral infections like the common cold and flu aren’t treatable with antibiotics, so avoid asking your doctors to prescribe antibiotics to address these issues.
• Don’t take antibiotics that aren’t prescribed to you just because you think you have the same infection as another person. Talk to your doctor instead to determine if antibiotics are right for you.
• Patients also need to be aware of the potential harm of continued antibiotic use, so it’s important that antibiotics are taken correctly the first time. When taking antibiotics, don’t skip doses, and make sure to follow the directions about dose and duration from your doctor.
• Antibiotic resistance is also a problem in agriculture. Learn more about how you can make a difference by supporting responsible antibiotic use on the farm.

Learn more about antibiotic resistance on the CDC resource website.

Image credits: CDC and the World Health Organization