Antibiotic Resistance Today
Advent of Antibacterials
Penicillin, utilized in the early 1940’s, spurred a medical revolution
advancing health and longevity. Antibiotics are drugs that destroy bacteria. Before their use, numerous deaths were attributed to incurable infections and injuries. Nowadays we take our well-being for granted. Scrapes and scratches, which could have proven fatal merely a century ago, are easily cleaned with Neosporin and a band-aid. Bacterial infections are now commonly cured and surgeries face significantly less risk of pathogen invasions. Since the 20th century, this medication has served to increase our lifespan by nearly 30 years (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], n.d.). However, the golden-age of antibiotics has ended. The bacteria are retaliating.
A Taste of Our Own Medicine
Bacteria are incredibly intelligent and can adapt to countless threats. Every time they multiply a mutation can occur, one that strengthens their resistance. This resistance mechanism is difficult for scientists to overcome, especially since specific bacteria can multiply every twenty minutes (Growth of Bacterial Population, n.d.). Overexposure of antibiotics have allowed bacteria and other microbes to fortify their resistance. Our scientists lack the speed to combat them. Creating a cure can take a minimum of 10 years. The pharmaceutical industry does not consider antibiotics an optimistic economic investment, 15 of the 18 largest pharmaceutical companies have already halted research. (Antibiotic Resistance Crisis, April 2015). Antibiotic resistance is a prominent epidemic caused by both our health care industry and agricultural production systems.
Prescription Misuse in Hospitals
Viral infections, such as the common cold or flu, are common offenders of over prescription. Antibiotics are for bacterial infections; they have no effect on viral illnesses. Yet 50% of antibiotics are still often prescribed in unneeded circumstances (CDC, 2015). One matter contributing to mismanagement of antibiotics is patient demands. Understandably people wish for an immediate cure to their ailment, yet many simply do not understand the negative effects exploiting antibiotics produce. Penicillin, the miracle-drug of the 1940s, quickly created resistant bacteria attributable to popular overuse. Staphylococcus aureus adapted to penicillin, and today some of our most powerful antibiotics are ineffective against strains of S. aureus. (Federal and Drug Administration [FDA], n.d.). This outbreak has been developing for decades through our contributions.
Antibiotics in Our Food Supply
Before the FDA’s restrictions, a prominent step in our animal food production was using antibiotics as growth promoters. Bacteria would evolve and disperse onto the workers, the environment, and even the food supply. Rather than banning antimicrobials, which help treat and prevent illness in animals, the FDA has set voluntary guidelines. Regulatory action would disrupt the agricultural and animal industry therefore a “collaborative approach is the fastest way to implement change.” (FDA, n.d.). This year, antibiotic resistant infections caused by our food was found to be near 410,000 cases (CDC, 2016). With progressive awareness and acknowledgement, we hope that statistic will decrease.
The Conquest of Superbugs
The CDCN world health organization currently reports over 23,000 deaths and 2,000,000 infections every year due to antibiotic resistance (CDC, 2016). Superbugs, bacteria resistant to antibiotics, will continue to strengthen without preventive measures. The CDC has released a list of the most urgent superbug threats including Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae; a bacterium prominent in hospitals. Patients who contract CRE as a bloodstream infection have a 50% chance of survival (CDC, 2016). This global resistance pandemic does not only impact those in medical facilities- it is vital that the general populace remains mindful.
UCONN Involvement: In-Person Interview
Mary Anne Amalaradjou is an assistant professor here at UCONN. She has a Ph.D. in Animal Science and a M.S. in Veterinary Science. She teaches a class, Probiotics and Prebiotics, in the Spring. Currently her research is in microbiology; more specifically, using probiotics as an alternative to antibiotics.
What is the focus of your lab research?
Our goal is to find alternatives to antibiotics. We try to see if there are natural ways to fight off resistance. Initially we do a lot of screenings to figure out if the bacteria are resistant. If they’re resistant, we determine to what antibiotics and to what level of resistance. For example, MRSA’s resistance to minocycline. After we try to figure out how we can overcome that resistance using certain natural antimicrobials (herbs, spices, essential oils, or other probiotics). We grow the bacteria in the presence of these natural antimicrobials and we do a resistance check before and after. In most cases, we have seen the resistance is reduced, the bacteria becomes sensitive.
Do you agree that we live in a “Post-Antibiotic Era”?
Well, yes, there is no denying it. Initially, when penicillin first came out, it was over the counter. We didn’t know it was a magic drug! Before antibiotics someone could walk through their garden, prick their finger on a thorn, then possibly die from septicemia! Unfortunately for us, we’ve overused these drugs and increased bacterial resistance. By 2050, if we don’t do anything about it, its predicted resistance could kill 10,000,000 a year.
To what degree are you against antibiotics?
I am against an unscrupulous use of antibiotics like over prescription and using antibiotics when they’re not needed. If you go see a doctor for the flu, know that a virus causes the flu! There is no need for antibiotics unless you have an infection. Also, if a doctor tells you to take antibiotics for seven days, you better take it for seven days. After three days, if people are feeling better, they stop taking them. Unknowingly, they are increasing their chances of becoming resistant. They are helping the bug become resistant to the antibiotic.
I’ve shadowed multiple Emergency Room physicians and noticed some patients, after waiting long periods in triage, become agitated hearing they won’t receive antibiotics.
Right, this happens a lot at the pediatrician. If you’re a mother with a three-year-old who is crying because their nose is stuffed and their running a fever, you would go to a doctor. But the doctor doesn’t prescribe you an antibiotic. The truth of the matter is that your child doesn’t need antibiotics, but the people aren’t happy. What will the doctor do in this stance? When we talk about antibiotics and resistance there is a lot of consumer education that needs to be done. If you have a minor cold, fever, or flu you don’t need an antibiotic. You can make that choice. But you can only make that choice if you know about it.
How involved are antibiotics in agricultural production?
Animals are inspected, the sick ones don’t come into our food supply. If a cow has mastitis you treat it with antibiotics. During treatment you may use the milk, but during the withdrawal period the milk doesn’t come into circulation. This is fair. Then also, there was initially an issue in the poultry and swine industry. They used antibiotics at subtherapeutic doses (a dose less than the amount required to kill bacteria) realizing by doing so they were increasing production at a lesser cost. But bacteria in the animal environment were becoming exposed and resistant. The FDA now regulates the control of drugs and antibiotics.
How do you propose we combat antibiotic resistance?
We need to have more stringent control, heavier monitoring watching prescription (akin to a gatekeeper system), education from consumers, and pharmaceutical companies and scientists need to find alternatives. I talk a lot about probiotics, they can fight infections and kill bad bugs. But they are not as quick as antibiotics. When you don’t have time to wait around, you may need an antibiotic. So, can we use cocktails or adjuncts in antibiotic therapy? Wouldn’t this would be better than having one fallback plan than can fail anytime? Researching things like this are how we can improve our current situation and develop something better.
What can the UCONN community do to help?
Be aware and spread your awareness. And trust your doctor, they’re trained. Don’t demand antibiotics and ask questions if you’re concerned. Understand that you don’t need antibiotics for viral illnesses. Before you buy a cell phone, how much time do you spend reading about it? Now consider antibiotics; this is something you are going to do to your body, your life. How much time are you going to spend? Invest in yourself.
Is there anything you would like to say to UCONN students?
Although it sounds scary and gloomy, it’s not! When you finish reading these antibiotic resistance articles you become afraid to touch anything! But think of all the things antibiotics have positively changed throughout history. Antibiotic overuse is a bad habit and if we make a conscious collective effort (practitioners, pharmaceuticals, government, and the public) we can break it. There are options and we are continuing to learn, know that everyone is coming together to solve this.