Thursday, April 7 was World Health Day and the focus for 2011 was on antimicrobial resistance, also called antibiotic resistance. In essence it is bacteria we are trying to kill that just don’t die! Instead, they adapt and that is why you should care…
Bacteria are adapting
Antibiotics are less effective and have been used for so long that the bacteria they were designed to kill have evolved. According to the CDC, “People infected with antimicrobial-resistant organisms are more likely to have longer, more expensive hospital stays, and may be more likely to die as a result of the infection.
Antibiotic resistance can cause significant danger and suffering for children and adults who have common infections, once easily treatable with antibiotics. Microbes can develop resistance to specific medicines. A common misconception is that a person’s body becomes resistant to specific drugs. However, it is microbes, not people, that become resistant to the drugs.”
Misuse and overuse
Do you expect your doctor to prescribe an antibiotic when you are sick?
Do you save some of your antibiotics for later?
If you answered yes to the above questions then that’s part of the problem. Mayoclinic.com, CDC, WebMd all advise the same guidelines when it comes to antibiotics:
- Don’t beg, demand, or expect your Doctor to prescribe an antibiotic. Antibiotics only treat bacterial infections.
- If you do have a prescription, take it exactly as prescribed.
- Finish your prescription, don’t stop because you feel better for a few days and save the rest for next time.
Antibiotic resistance is a concern for everyone.
The World Health Organization reported that approximately “440,000 new cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) emerge annually, causing at least 150,000 deaths.”
In addition to the guidelines, you can eat a healthy diet rich in antioxidants (vegetables) and exercise. Antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to boost the immune system. In addition, the March issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource discovered a link between exercise and “…immune cells circulate more quickly through the body and are better at destroying viruses and bacteria.”
So, let’s be proactive and keep these superbugs at bay!