Abstract
This proposal explores the research of growing concerns of antibiotic resistance. The world faces an increase of annual deaths caused by infectious diseases that arose from the growing resistance of bacteria in the body due to the intake of antibiotics. There has been closed doors about what is happening to get rid of the uprising of untreatable viruses. Superbugs, its given name, “has caused 700,000 deaths yearly from the lack of effect from antibiotics and has been pronounced as a global health security concern” (Majid 2018). It is no longer something that can be hidden, it needs to be handled spot on. Doctors and researchers have been exploring possible solutions to control the spread of infections and limit the use of antibiotics taken by patients. Hospitals are the number one place where superbugs originate from and reside in. Hygiene and sanitary protocols within hospitals needs to be regularly enforced so that these resistant species are not spreading everywhere more frequently. You also have patients being under the influence that antibiotics could cure the sickness it is being prescribed to treat. They would consume more than the recommended amount in hopes of feeling better quicker. This leads to a pathway development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which increases infectious diseases. The best way to eradicate these bacterial resistant infections is to have more effective sanitary protocols within hospitals and have antibiotic protocols distributes regulated.
Focusing Question:
Should there be a new protocol to how doctors distribute antibiotics to patients?
Primary Purpose:
In the last few years antibiotics have been having lesser effects on the viruses and infections in the human body. This has caused an increase in antimicrobial resistance known as “superbugs”. The anticipated viruses that these antibiotics were created to kill has been discovered to targeting our “good” bacteria as well (1). This leaves the body open to new viruses without the protection of the “good” bacteria which cannot be tamed by antibiotics. How are we supposed to combat the growth of infections with antibiotics that cannot effect superbugs?
Explore:
When exploring the topic, I came to wonder if there were ways to create antibiotics that were more effective without the drugs that cause severe effects to bacteria and organs. As in inspecting the bacteria and testing it with other drugs within the antibiotics to discover which one(s) have a greater effect of killing these new superbugs. Scientists and doctors have been looking to discover a solution for the superbug outbreak before it becomes more out of hand, to the point where medicine is no longer effective in combating any bacterial infection.
Analyze:
What are the best and most suitable solutions? Doctors have a tendency in prescribing antibiotics to patients without evaluating what illness the patient has and which medicine will be best fit. For example, with a cold, you continue to use the prescribed medicine frequently in hopes that the more you use the less sick you may become. However antibiotics do not help getting rid of a cold, colds go away on their own and home remedies fit best along with rest. Instead you have the consequence drugs coursing through your system targeting the healthy factors of fighting infections. If you have a urinary tract infection, there are antibiotics that are specific to helping that. Yet, side effects do occur such as antibiotic-resistant infections and doctors have to keep that in mind when prescribing the medication on behalf of the patient (2). They must also keep in mind that antibiotics do not work on viruses, such as colds and flu. Evolution happens within the body daily so how can doctors keep up with that? They cannot. Hospitals contain a lot of bacteria and with an abundant amount of sick patients residing there, one new superbug is created every 18 minutes within public city hospitals. In order to prevent viruses and infections from spreading frequently, the hospital needs to be kept in full sanitary. Drugs are expensive and there are only so many you can combine together to help fight an infection. Once bacteria gets used to an occurring drug, the more frequently used will result in a negative effect instead of its opposed positive effect. If you consume antibiotics, you are already creating resistant bacteria.
Working Knowledge:
Before the topic came to mind, I did not have any speculation that antibiotics were causing more harm than benefit to the body over time. Antibiotics are just like any other drug, they are addictive, especially with the smallest potency of detrimental drugs. My view on the topic has changed seeing as antibiotics were always seen as something beneficial but has harmful effects to the body over time. Doctors regulation on antibiotics needs to be changed in a way where there would not be a need for antibiotics at all.
Reference Page
- Majid, A. (2019, July 18). Could superbugs be wiped out by this alternative to antibiotics? Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/alternative-antibiotics-could-help-fight-against-superbugs/.
- Common Illnesses. (2019, August 28). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/community/for-patients/common-illnesses/index.html.
