Why you should finish your antibiotic course
- Takudzwa
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are groups of powerful, lifesaving medications used to treat bacterial infections. It is important to note that they do not work against viral infections like colds or flu. Antibiotics work by either killing the bacteria or preventing the multiplication of bacteria.
Bacteria are tiny, single-celled living organisms. There are millions of different types of bacteria. Bacteria can be found in and on your body and are beneficial to you. Other bacteria are harmful and can make you ill.
Globally, millions of deaths yearly can be linked to bacterial infections.
Types of antibiotic preparations
Oral antibiotics - taken by mouth (tablets, capsules, and liquids)
Injections and intravenous (IV) antibiotics - injected into your muscle or an IV in your vein (often reserved for more serious infections)
Topical antibiotics – applied on the outside of your body (creams, ointments, eye and ear drops)
Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic Resistance occurs when bacteria change to resist antibiotics that are used to effectively treat them. This complicates bacterial infection treatment. Antibiotic resistance is dangerous because it reduces treatment options for people who are sick.
Antibiotic Resistance leads to:
Increased medical costs
Prolonged hospitalization
Severe medication side effects
Increased risk of severe, extended illness or death
What causes antibiotic resistance?
Misuse of antibiotics - stopping treatment too early, using someone else’s medicine, and skipping doses. May result in the bacteria not being killed, leading to mutation and resistance against that treatment.
Overuse of antibiotics – using antibiotics when you don’t need them contributes to antibiotic resistance, for example, taking antibiotics for viral infections.
Antibiotic resistance is a problem because it makes infections difficult or impossible to treat, leading to longer hospital stays, more expensive and potentially toxic treatments, and higher rates of serious illness and death. This is a major global health threat because it can make common infections dangerous and could lead to a "post-antibiotic era" where routine medical procedures become too risky to perform.
How can we deal with antibiotic resistance?
Only take antibiotics when you need them
Practice good hygiene
Take your antibiotics exactly as your provider instructs
Don’t save any of your antibiotics for a later time
Safely throw away unused medicine
Don’t take medicine a provider prescribed for someone else
Conclusion
Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria develop the ability to survive exposure to antibiotics that are meant to kill them, making infections harder to treat. This problem is worsened when antibiotics are used incorrectly, such as stopping treatment too soon. Failing to finish your prescribed antibiotic course can leave some bacteria alive, allowing them to adapt, multiply, and become resistant. Completing the full course ensures that all harmful bacteria are eliminated, reducing the risk of infection returning and helping to prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains.
References
1 Antibiotic Research UK. About antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infections (https://www.antibioticresearch.org.uk/patient-support/specific-infections/urinary-tract-infections-utis/). Accessed 10/19/2023.
4 Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators. Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35065702/) [published correction appears in Lancet. 2022 Oct 1;400(10358):1102]. Lancet. 2022;399(10325):629-655. Accessed 10/19/2023.
Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board
