Antibiotics

Carmel Lewis

Shared publicly  -  10:51 AM Antibiotics resistance (is) a “catastrophic threat” Do you agree or disagree?

Antibiotics are a type of medicine that inhibits the growth of or destroys microorganisms. Antibiotics have been around for centuries. Penicillin (a type of antibiotic) was discovered in 1928 by Sir Alexander Fleming, he noticed that some of the bacteria he was cultivating were unable to grow if a certain fungus was nearby. However it was not until 1940 that penicillin was purified and used as an antibiotic. Penicillin was widely used during World War 2 and was responsible for saving the lives of numerous soldiers (typesofbacteria.2013). Antibiotics work by interfering with certain aspects of bacterial cell growth or replication. There are many types of antibiotics, and different ones are effective against different parts of bacterium.

However it has become apparent that certain bacterial infections have become resistant to antibiotics that have previously been effective in treating them. Recently “dame sally” released a report stating antibiotic resistance has become a serious issue that we should take very seriously. She also said “if we don’t take action, then we may as well be back in an almost 19th century environment where infections kill us as a result of routine operations” (BBC.2013). Antibiotic resistance occurs when antibiotics no longer work against disease causing bacteria.

Due to this I believe that antibiotics should not be given out as easily, thus reducing the growth of antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotics only work on bacterial infections and not on viral infections such as the common cold. However many Doctors still give out courses of antibiotics to people suffering from viral infections. Overusing antibiotic drugs or giving them out incorrectly effectively teaches bacteria how to resist them. Scientific tests, reported in the respected journal Plus one, found high levels of potentially lethal staphylococcus bacteria and more than a third of these were resistant to commonly used antibiotic (PlusOne.2013).  A further study reinforces this previous scientific research that warns drug – resistant forms of bacteria are building because we are consuming so many antibiotics at home and in hospitals, then flushing them into our water system. There bacteria can “learn” how to become immune to them. Worse they are learning to resist once in our bodies due to been over prescribed. Every unnecessary prescription can increase chance of bacteria becoming resistant. In the future this could lead to thousands of people dyeing needlessly as their bodies are totally immune to any antibiotic that is given to treat them.

Another factor in why antibiotic resistance is on the increase is due to people not taking their full course of antibiotics correcting. Many people do not finish their course, do not take them at the correct times, or they drink alcohol whilst taking antibiotics (stops them working at all).  This can lead to certain types of antibiotics been ineffective for ever if patients fail to finish their courses. Bacteria are only wiped out if the full course is completed correctly. If the full course is not completed bacteria can be left behind and it is usually the strongest bacteria that are left (Guardian.2011). This bacterial can then mutate to form new bacteria that the antibiotic is no longer able to treat. Individuals who do not finish their course of antibiotic pose a huge danger to themselves. It will lead to them been unable to be treated for minor infections which could in turn kill them. It would also mean should they ever need an operation or organ transplant they may die as a result, as they may contract an infection whilst in hospital that is unable to be treated. This could lead to thousands if not millions of people dyeing needlessly (BBC.2013). Which in itself is a “catastrophic threat”?

Some on the antibiotics we humans use are also been given to animals. Scientists believe adding antibiotics to agriculture could have a significant effect to antibiotic resistance. In 1965 the “UK Agriculture Research Council” began hearing how organisms commonly found in animals had become resistant to certain antibiotics. This has led to many scientists believing antibiotic resistance can be passed from animal to human when we consume animal products. This again would mean us as humans regardless if we take our antibiotics correctly or not are at risk of becoming resistant to antibiotics. This means again we would die needlessly from common infections, causing a “catastrophic threat”.

Having examined some of the evidence it would seem that antibiotic resistance is a serious global problem that needs to be addressed quickly. If we as humans become resistant to antibiotics we as a population would rapidly decrease. This would be down to the fact a simple cut to finger could kill us, if it becomes infected as they will be no antibiotics available to treat the infection.  As the bacteria once inside our own bodies has learnt to mutate and our own natural resistance is no longer able to cope and fight these off.

Bibliography

BBC (2013). Antibiotics resistance 'as big a risk as terrorism' - medical chief [s.l]: BBC. [online] Available from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21737844 [Accessed 27 April 2013]

Guardian (2011). What danger will result from not completing a course of prescribed antibiotics? [s.l]: guardian. [online]. Available from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,,-1112,00.html [Accessed 15 May 2013]

Typesofbacteria (2012). When Were Antibiotics Discovered? [s.l]: typesofbacteria. [online]. Available from: http://www.typesofbacteria.co.uk/when-were-antibiotics-discovered.html [Accessed 15 May 2013]Read more

Antibiotics resistance (is) a “catastrophic threat” Do you agree or disagree?

Antibiotics are a type of medicine that inhibits the growth of or destroys microorganisms. Antibiotics have been around for centuries. Penicillin (a type of antibiotic) was discovered in 1928 by Sir Alexander Fleming, he noticed that some of the bacteria he was cultivating were unable to grow if a certain fungus was nearby. However it was not until 1940 that penicillin was purified and used as an antibiotic. Penicillin was widely used during World War 2 and was responsible for saving the lives of numerous soldiers (typesofbacteria.2013). Antibiotics work by interfering with certain aspects of bacterial cell growth or replication. There are many types of antibiotics, and different ones are effective against different parts of bacterium.

However it has become apparent that certain bacterial infections have become resistant to antibiotics that have previously been effective in treating them. Recently “dame sally” released a report stating antibiotic resistance has become a serious issue that we should take very seriously. She also said “if we don’t take action, then we may as well be back in an almost 19th century environment where infections kill us as a result of routine operations” (BBC.2013). Antibiotic resistance occurs when antibiotics no longer work against disease causing bacteria.

Due to this I believe that antibiotics should not be given out as easily, thus reducing the growth of antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotics only work on bacterial infections and not on viral infections such as the common cold. However many Doctors still give out courses of antibiotics to people suffering from viral infections. Overusing antibiotic drugs or giving them out incorrectly effectively teaches bacteria how to resist them. Scientific tests, reported in the respected journal Plus one, found high levels of potentially lethal staphylococcus bacteria and more than a third of these were resistant to commonly used antibiotic (PlusOne.2013).  A further study reinforces this previous scientific research that warns drug – resistant forms of bacteria are building because we are consuming so many antibiotics at home and in hospitals, then flushing them into our water system. There bacteria can “learn” how to become immune to them. Worse they are learning to resist once in our bodies due to been over prescribed. Every unnecessary prescription can increase chance of bacteria becoming resistant. In the future this could lead to thousands of people dyeing needlessly as their bodies are totally immune to any antibiotic that is given to treat them.

Another factor in why antibiotic resistance is on the increase is due to people not taking their full course of antibiotics correcting. Many people do not finish their course, do not take them at the correct times, or they drink alcohol whilst taking antibiotics (stops them working at all).  This can lead to certain types of antibiotics been ineffective for ever if patients fail to finish their courses. Bacteria are only wiped out if the full course is completed correctly. If the full course is not completed bacteria can be left behind and it is usually the strongest bacteria that are left (Guardian.2011). This bacterial can then mutate to form new bacteria that the antibiotic is no longer able to treat. Individuals who do not finish their course of antibiotic pose a huge danger to themselves. It will lead to them been unable to be treated for minor infections which could in turn kill them. It would also mean should they ever need an operation or organ transplant they may die as a result, as they may contract an infection whilst in hospital that is unable to be treated. This could lead to thousands if not millions of people dyeing needlessly (BBC.2013). Which in itself is a “catastrophic threat”?

Some on the antibiotics we humans use are also been given to animals. Scientists believe adding antibiotics to agriculture could have a significant effect to antibiotic resistance. In 1965 the “UK Agriculture Research Council” began hearing how organisms commonly found in animals had become resistant to certain antibiotics. This has led to many scientists believing antibiotic resistance can be passed from animal to human when we consume animal products. This again would mean us as humans regardless if we take our antibiotics correctly or not are at risk of becoming resistant to antibiotics. This means again we would die needlessly from common infections, causing a “catastrophic threat”.

Having examined some of the evidence it would seem that antibiotic resistance is a serious global problem that needs to be addressed quickly. If we as humans become resistant to antibiotics we as a population would rapidly decrease. This would be down to the fact a simple cut to finger could kill us, if it becomes infected as they will be no antibiotics available to treat the infection.  As the bacteria once inside our own bodies has learnt to mutate and our own natural resistance is no longer able to cope and fight these off.

Bibliography

BBC (2013). Antibiotics resistance 'as big a risk as terrorism' - medical chief [s.l]: BBC. [online] Available from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21737844 [Accessed 27 April 2013]

Guardian (2011). What danger will result from not completing a course of prescribed antibiotics? [s.l]: guardian. [online]. Available from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,,-1112,00.html [Accessed 15 May 2013]

Typesofbacteria (2012). When Were Antibiotics Discovered? [s.l]: typesofbacteria. [online]. Available from: http://www.typesofbacteria.co.uk/when-were-antibiotics-discovered.html [Accessed 15 May 2013]

Show lessAntibiotic resistance 'threat to UK'http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21737844