What is Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a new threat to global health. Antibiotics or antimicrobial drugs are a type of medicine that fights bacterial infections. When this medicine is applied to the human or animal body, it kills the bacteria in the body or cures the disease by preventing its propagation. So antibiotics can be called a blessing of medical science to protect against bacterial attacks.

But that antibiotic can backfire if not applied properly.

What is antibiotic resistance?

If one has a bacterial infection in the body and if one does not take antibiotics in the right amount and for a sufficient time as advised by the doctor to cure that disease, the bacteria can become stronger instead of being completely destroyed.

The acquisition of this ability of bacteria to survive despite the application of antibiotics is called antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotic resistance has appeared in many people treated for common diseases in different hospitals in Bangladesh. As a result, the antibiotics that are used to cure the patient are no longer working. Otherwise very high doses of antibiotics have to be given.

In this way, the immunity of the human body is gradually decreasing, said Taufiq Ahmed, associate professor of the medicine department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College Hospital.

What causes antibiotic resistance?

In the time it takes for new antibiotics to be developed in the world, antibiotic resistance is increasing at a rate that is several times higher. As a result, it is feared that in the near future there may be a risk of death of people even with a slight sneeze-cough-fever. In this regard, Ahmed said, the biggest cause of antibiotic resistance is the excessive use of antibiotics in recent times. Many people take antibiotics without a doctor's prescription only when they have a fever and headache. Many people take antibiotics on doctor's advice but do not complete their full course.

After a few meals, when you feel better, quit. As a result, antibiotics have no effect against that bacteria, said Ahmed.

Antibiotic resistance can occur naturally from the environment

Again, despite taking antibiotics regularly, children can also become victims of antibiotic resistance. This is due to the proliferation of antibiotics in the environment. Lately fish, ducks, chickens or cows are fed antibiotic-containing food. Antibiotics are also used in the production of vegetables. As a result, there is a risk of developing antibiotic resistance when exposed to raw meat of these animals, eaten in semi-cooked conditions, says Ahmed.

Antibiotic resistance testing

But culture and sensitivity tests are done to find out if a person is antibiotic-resistant.

In this regard, Associate Professor Tawfiq Ahmed said, one or more samples are collected according to the patient's disease type. Typically, samples are collected from the patient's blood, urine, sputum, or pus if not saliva. Tawfiq Ahmed knows that usually blood test is done when symptoms of fever or typhoid appear, a urine sample is taken in case of urine infection, kidney complications, saliva or phlegm in case of lung disease, and if there is a boil anywhere in the body - pus sample is taken from there.

Microbiologists in the lab test those samples. Different types of antibiotics are used on the bacteria there to see if that antibiotic is able to kill the bacteria or stop its propagation.

For this reason, in the lab, samples of the bacteria are taken on a round disk or Petri dish at some distance. Some food or culture medium of bacteria is placed in between those samples so that the bacteria grow rapidly.

Then different types of antibiotics are given to each part of the growing bacteria. Then if it is seen that the bacteria are dying or the growth is stopped under the effect of antibiotics then the English letter 'S' or sensitive is written next to that medicine.

If the bacteria cannot be killed, then the English letter 'R' or resistant is written, which means that this antibiotic is not able to kill the bacteria. It is resistant to bacteria. Again, if the growth of bacteria is reduced, it will be written "I" or "Intermediate". This means that this drug can work in higher doses.

It may take up to 72 hours to receive the report after the sample is submitted. Based on the results of that report, the doctor decides what antibiotic to give the patient.

Ahmed has come across many reports in his career where a patient is 20/25 antibiotic resistant i.e. none of the antibiotics will work. Or even in common diseases, only high-power medicine is working. However, if a patient has already taken antibiotics, then the bacteria is isolated and tested by a special method, he said.

Read more... What is an antacid?

Source: BBC Bangla Report and Bangladesh Daily