HEALTHNET

The Alarm of Antibiotic Abuse

The abuse of antibiotics results in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

(Posted on 27 July 2006)

Antibiotic was first discovered in 1929. Since then, antibiotics have been among the most frequently prescribed medications in modern medicine. Antibiotics work by killing or injuring bacteria. However, the abuse of antibiotics results in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria

Unfortunately, antibiotic-resistance evolves quickly that it has already surpassed the development of antibiotics. The alarm is raised and it has become a worldwide phenomenon. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria will lead to public health crisis.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a superbug known to be resistant to most commonly used antibiotics. It was confined to the hospital settings in the past, but after decades of evolution it has acquired antibiotic-resistance and community infection cases were reported. This sounds the alarm bell that antibiotic abuse is probably as widespread in the general community as in the hospitals.

Antibiotics are Useless against Viral Infections

The abuse of antibiotics may be related to the misconceptions of their usages. Although antibiotics are useful to a wide variety of infections, it is important to realize that antibiotics only work for bacterial infections. Antibiotics are useless against viral infections. Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), such as common cold, influenza and sore throat, are by far the commonest illnesses in the community. Many people believe that antibiotics are useful for URTIs. However, treatment with antibiotics is likely to be of only marginal benefit to the patients because the occurrence of most URTIs results from viral infections. Patients should employ simple therapies, for example, taking a bed rest and oral fluids, rather than using antibiotic therapy.

Misconceptions of Antibiotics

In an earlier survey conducted by the Family Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, it was found that more than 60% of the responding doctors reflected that 40% of their URTIs patients had expected antibiotics. The result showed that many people misunderstood the usage of antibiotics, and found that the prescription of antibiotics was influenced by a number of factors including the doctor, the patient, the doctor-patient interaction, and the wider social context.

Costs of Drug Wastage

There are many disadvantages associated with inappropriate drug therapy including side effects and allergies. Another concern is the cost of the drug. According to a recent estimation, if 20% of URTIs patients in Hong Kong used antibiotics inappropriately, the estimated wastage of antibiotics would amount to many millions of dollars per year, depending on the types of the antibiotics prescribed.

The Importance of Communication and Education

The abuse of antibiotics is a global problem. To prevent it and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, it is recommended that doctors should spare more time to explain the condition of the illness and the therapy to their patients in details, and educate the patients that antibiotics are not always the solution for all infections. Furthermore, more attention should be paid to the problem and further education on appropriate use of antibiotics is also important.

Source: The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine