Change Your World Week Fall 2021 (Archived)

Stopping an antibiotic course prematurely can contribute to the worsening worldwide problem of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistant bacteria can cause infections to become more severe and increasingly difficult to treat, opening the possibility for more common antibiotics to become less effective or completely irrelevant in the treatment of basic bacterial infections. 

Taking antibiotics that were not prescribed for the specific infection can also lead to antibiotic resistance, specific bacterial infections can require specific antibiotics and can have different timelines. The infection may not even be bacterial, it could be viral.

Antibiotics are useless against viral infections and can potentially cause harm and kill healthy gut bacteria. The following are reasons why someone should not take antibiotics for viral infections as listed on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website.

• it will not cure the infection
• it will not keep others from catching the virus
• it will not help someone feel better
• it may cause unnecessary and potentially harmful side effects
• it may contribute to the development of more antibiotic resistant bacteria

https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/combating-antibiotic-resistance 

While it might not cause problems this time it can most definitely come back to bite in the future. Next time you become ill it could very well be caused by an antibiotic resistant bacteria, these infections can become very expensive very fast.

According to the Mayo Clinic the following are some consequences

• More serious illness
• Longer recovery time
• Hospitalization 
• More doctor visits
• Treatments that are more expensive

https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/combating-antibiotic-resistance

Long courses of antibiotics can be difficult to keep up with, many people forget to take doses or give up due to some of the side effects. It is important to talk with the doctor before discontinuing any treatment but studies have shown that certain bacterial infections do not require such a long coarse of antibiotics. Depending on the type of bacteria, patient history, and a few other factors  certain infections can be cut down to just a few days of antibiotics. Linked below is an article discussing these specific infections, situations, and length of courses.

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/04/doctor-group-advises-shorter-antibiotic-course-common-infections

Antibiotic resistance is not just a problem for the healthcare industry and pharmaceutical companies to take care of, there are many ways anyone can help prevent the growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests following the protocols listed below.

• Only use antibiotics when prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional
• Don't pressure a prescriber into giving you antibiotics when they say they are not needed
• Always follow healthcare providers advice when using antibiotics
• Never share leftover antibiotics
• prevent infections through regular hand washing, hygienically preparing food, avoiding close contact with sick people, practicing safe sex, and keeping up to date on vaccinations

Other ways we, as a community, can help prevent further antibiotic resistance are through education on the antibiotics we are prescribed, consulting with a doctor before making changes, and proper disposal of these antibiotics. Proper disposal of antibiotics  can include attending a drug take back day or dropping them off at a drug drop box, these boxes can be found at pharmacies, hospitals, and police stations. 

“Antibiotic Resistance.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antibiotic-resistance.

“Antibiotics: Are You Misusing Them?” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 15 Feb. 2020, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/antibiotics/art-20045720.

Chris Dall | News Reporter | CIDRAP News  | Apr 06, 2021. “Doctor Group Advises Shorter Antibiotic Course for Common Infections.” CIDRAP, 6 Apr. 2021, https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/04/doctor-group-advises-shorter-antibiotic-course-common-infections.

Commissioner, Office of the. “Combating Antibiotic Resistance.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/combating-antibiotic-resistance.

Langford, Bradley J, and Andrew M Morris. “Is It Time to Stop Counselling Patients to ‘Finish the Course of Antibiotics’?” Canadian Pharmacists Journal : CPJ = Revue Des Pharmaciens Du Canada : RPC, SAGE Publications, 5 Oct. 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5661683/.