Help Stop the Spread of “Superbugs” with Judicious Antibiotic Use
When used properly, antibiotics can safely and effectively treat conditions such as strep throat and urinary tract infections. But the overuse and misuse of antibiotics is contributing to a growing public health threat: the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Earlier this year, a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences confirmed that people’s homes can be “major reservoirs” of a strain of methicil-lin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, also known as MRSA. This MRSA strain, called USA300, is responsible for infections across the U.S. It’s different from the more commonly known version of the antibiotic-resistant MRSA, which was generally associated with hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities, and often caused pneumonia and bloodstream infections.
David P. Calfee, MD, MS, chief hospital epidemiologist at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, says the USA300 strain is, fortunately, still treatable with a variety of antibiotics. But, he adds that antibiotics are often prescribed for conditions that aren’t caused by bacterial infections. And, the results of antibiotic overuse are alarming: Antibiotic-resistant “superbugs,” which have developed due to antibiotic overuse, infect about two million people in the U.S., resulting in nearly 23,000 deaths annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
WHAT YOU CAN DO
To avoid illnesses that require
antibiotic treatment:
➤ Wash your hands frequently,
and encourage everyone in your household to do the same.
➤ Avoid sharing personal items, such as razors, toothbrushes,
washcloths, and bath towels.
➤ Keep wounds clean and covered while they heal.
➤ Wash sheets and towels in
hot water.
Antibiotic overuse
Dr. Calfee explains that antibiotic misuse sometimes stems from patients demanding antibiotics for what are actually viral infections (which are not treatable with antibiotics). “For instance, a lot of people think that if they have an upper respiratory infection, it has to be treated with antibiotics, but most of them are due to viral infections,” he says. “Patients should not expect to always get antibiotics.”
Dr. Calfee says he understands why many patients think that antibiotics are the answer. In the past, they may have been prescribed antibiotics, even if they had a viral infection. “They got better after getting the antibiotics, and think that’s what helped,” he says. “But they would have gotten better anyway, even if they hadn’t taken antibiotics.”
In many situations, health care providers are to blame for overprescribing antibiotics. Dr. Calfee explains that a person who is very ill might come into a hospital or long-term care facility and appropriately be put on broad-spectrum antibiotics right away. Then, after some testing, it might be determined that no antibiotics are needed, or that a different antibiotic can be used.
“Some of this is about education,” Dr. Calfee says. “We need to use strategies such as an ‘antibiotic timeout,’ where we ask ourselves if the patient is on the right antibiotic, or if we can stop administering them altogether.”
When antibiotics are necessary
The decision to use or not use antibiotics often can be made based on a patient’s obvious symptoms, Dr. Calfee says. A simple runny nose and other common cold symptoms shouldn’t warrant antibiotic use, for example. But some conditions may require additional investigation to determine the nature of the problem.
“A test isn’t always needed to distinguish between viral and bacterial infections,” Dr. Calfee says. “But, in some situations, such as when someone is very ill, a culture or other type of test is needed to confirm the diagnosis and identify the specific cause of the infection.” Testing may involve a throat swab to test for strep throat, for example, or a urine sample to screen for a urinary tract infection.
If your doctor recommends an antibiotic, Dr. Calfee says you should feel free to inquire about the diagnosis, why the medication is being prescribed, and how long you should expect to be on the antibiotic. And, if you ever have doubts about a proposed treatment plan, never hesitate to seek a second opinion.
The post Help Stop the Spread of “Superbugs” with Judicious Antibiotic Use appeared first on University Health News.
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