There we were, perfectly happy and safe, with great antibiotics that could cure just about anything. Then everything changed. Some bacteria were no longer being killed by our antibiotics and we were staring defeat in the eye.
OK, it didn’t proceed like that, but it might as well have. We are now well down the path where our antibiotics are failing against increasingly successful bacteria. For 70 years we have been using and improving antibiotic treatment against infections caused by bacteria. Antibiotics have made people well more often and faster, and millions fewer have died from infection. Unfortunately, that is changing.
Some bacterial infections have become increasingly difficult to treat, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections and skin infections. This is because those bacteria have become resistant to the antibiotics that have been used to kill them. They have become superbugs (much more difficult to treat). And the pace of resistance to antibiotics in bacteria is accelerating. For example, about one in four urinary tract infections today is caused by bacteria that are resistant to drugs that were first-line for this condition only 10 years ago. In 1990, resistance to penicillin for strep pneumonia was about eight per cent; by 2009, it was 20 per cent.
The evolution of superbugs is explained quite simply. In a group of bacteria, some may survive the antibiotic treatment – they are resistant. In turn, these multiply and share resistance, and it is these bacteria that then cause more serious infections. Because bacteria evolve very quickly, it may take many, many generations before they are fully resistant, but it does come.
The glory days of antibiotics, if you will, have not completely passed, but the problem of antibiotic resistance is accelerating. There are things we can do to slow this pace. The best way to do this is to reduce the use of antibiotics. Prevent colds and flu by washing hands frequently and staying away from others when you are sick. Also, make sure you and your children are up to date on vaccinations. If you are sick, don’t broadcast the germs. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve instead of sending it all over the room.
If you are using antibiotics, do so wisely. That means taking them exactly as prescribed and completing the full course. Just because you feel better does not mean you should stop taking the antibiotic – that just encourages resistance in the remaining bacteria. And just because you think you need antibiotics doesn’t mean the doctor should prescribe them. An illness caused by a virus will not respond.
All of this boils down to three simple things you should know. First, hand washing is the best way to stop the spread of infections. Second, not all bugs need antibiotics. And finally, use antibiotics wisely to stop bacteria from become resistant.
Want to learn more? Two exceptional online resources are Do Bugs Need Drugs (www.dobugsneeddrugs.org) and Antibiotic Awareness (antibioticawareness.ca) or talk to your family physician or the Public Health clinic in your community.
