Antibiotic overuse
Discussion
My understanding is that antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria will develop (as they already have, but there'll be more) - this will affect everyone. People who can currently be treated with antibiotics will find them ineffective, and people like you who don't/can't use antibiotics will not get herd immunity as the infections spread.
We took our baby to the doctor a few months ago with an infection which we thought probably needed antibiotics. Doctor confirmed he needs antibiotics... I asked whether there was a local/cream antibiotic we could use, or anything else we could try first. Doctor looked very concerned and asked if I'm "refusing to use antibiotics for religious reasons".
All I did was ask if there's something gentler with less side-effects than pumping a baby's body full of antibiotics! As it turns out the antibiotics gave him weeks of stomach problems, so I was right to ask (although in this case there was probably no choice as the infection was too deep for cream).
You'd think a doctor would understand the reluctance to use antibiotics unless there's no choice...
We took our baby to the doctor a few months ago with an infection which we thought probably needed antibiotics. Doctor confirmed he needs antibiotics... I asked whether there was a local/cream antibiotic we could use, or anything else we could try first. Doctor looked very concerned and asked if I'm "refusing to use antibiotics for religious reasons".
All I did was ask if there's something gentler with less side-effects than pumping a baby's body full of antibiotics! As it turns out the antibiotics gave him weeks of stomach problems, so I was right to ask (although in this case there was probably no choice as the infection was too deep for cream).
You'd think a doctor would understand the reluctance to use antibiotics unless there's no choice...
Yep, as stated, it's not the humans which become resistant but the bacteria. So you then have a strain of bacteria knocking about that those antibiotics don't work on. Then we have to start treating it with the more obscure antibiotics, but eventually those will stop working too. Evolution in action.
as has been said its the bugs that are resistant to the drugs.
There have not been any truly Novel antibiotics developed since the 1980's. So what we have has been around a while, over exposure to antibiotics in farming as well as healthcare has resulted in this current problem. I read somewhere recently that there are some watercourses somewhere in the developing world (might have been china, I cant remember) where the level of antibiotic concentration in the water would be considered therapeutic if it was in the bloodstream.
The sobering thought is that if a new drug was invented today, its likely to take several years to come to market due to the rigourous safety testing, etc'
there are drugs developed in the 50's that have not been used extensively in humans due to their unpleasant side effects, which are now starting to be deployed, because thats all thats left that will work is some cases.
The upshot of all this is that elective surgery will become increasingly risky (things like joint replacements, etc) and high risk surgery will become a complete no go (heart surgery, transplant etc) It will be like returning to the 19th century, people dying of complications of the flu etc.
not very cheery really....
There have not been any truly Novel antibiotics developed since the 1980's. So what we have has been around a while, over exposure to antibiotics in farming as well as healthcare has resulted in this current problem. I read somewhere recently that there are some watercourses somewhere in the developing world (might have been china, I cant remember) where the level of antibiotic concentration in the water would be considered therapeutic if it was in the bloodstream.
The sobering thought is that if a new drug was invented today, its likely to take several years to come to market due to the rigourous safety testing, etc'
there are drugs developed in the 50's that have not been used extensively in humans due to their unpleasant side effects, which are now starting to be deployed, because thats all thats left that will work is some cases.
The upshot of all this is that elective surgery will become increasingly risky (things like joint replacements, etc) and high risk surgery will become a complete no go (heart surgery, transplant etc) It will be like returning to the 19th century, people dying of complications of the flu etc.
not very cheery really....
Edited by sawman on Friday 13th October 19:54
Here is a sobering thought (if you like).
Last year antibiotic prescriptions fell by 2.6m to 34m prescriptions (in the UK).
I suppose that is good news from the previous year?
Compare that to the number of another prescription that has risen rapidly.
That of anti-depressant prescriptions issued - almost 60m.
SIXTY million!
Apparently costs the NHS £750,000 a day!
Are we really that depressed?
I don't know, but seems a good reason to be.
Last year antibiotic prescriptions fell by 2.6m to 34m prescriptions (in the UK).
I suppose that is good news from the previous year?
Compare that to the number of another prescription that has risen rapidly.
That of anti-depressant prescriptions issued - almost 60m.
SIXTY million!
Apparently costs the NHS £750,000 a day!
Are we really that depressed?
I don't know, but seems a good reason to be.
Big Pharma has little incentive to develop new antibiotics as financially it doesn't make sense. Any novel antibioticwill be used as sparingly as possible, as a last resort on infections resistant to all other anitbiotics, to minmise the spread of resistance. Low sales= crap return on investment.
There a few glimmers of hope however. One possibility (not without its own problems) is Bacteriophage therapy - use viruses that kill bacteria (bacteriophages) as treatment. The bacteria develop resistance, but of course the viruses can evolve as well
.
There a few glimmers of hope however. One possibility (not without its own problems) is Bacteriophage therapy - use viruses that kill bacteria (bacteriophages) as treatment. The bacteria develop resistance, but of course the viruses can evolve as well
. Another point. NHS and other bodies all scared stiff about this coming winter and flu virus and infections in hospitals.
Get this.
Going into hospital the last thing you want is to get infection.
Best be careful which hospital you have.
All medics, nurses etc get the flu jab free. Naturally.
Yet take up is another post-code lottery.
A survey showed one hospital's staff had a 97% take up of the jab.
One hospital had a very low 19% take up of the 'free' jab to them.
Unfortunately, no areas or hospital names given.
Fingers tightly crossed then?
Get this.
Going into hospital the last thing you want is to get infection.
Best be careful which hospital you have.
All medics, nurses etc get the flu jab free. Naturally.
Yet take up is another post-code lottery.
A survey showed one hospital's staff had a 97% take up of the jab.
One hospital had a very low 19% take up of the 'free' jab to them.
Unfortunately, no areas or hospital names given.
Fingers tightly crossed then?
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