Abstract
Antibiotic resistance has become a public issue that is both costly and horrifying.
The diverse studies undertaken have established this phenomenon is becoming hard to control due to what scientists define as mutation. Therefore, antibiotic resistance should be taken seriously. Also more appropriate measures should be put in place to sensitize both public and medical personnel on the best approach and method of using and prescribing antibiotics. This is for the purpose of decrease instances of emergence of drug resistant diseases.
Introduction
First, the human body as is as any other organism, secondly, it is prone to both external and internal influences caused by minute organisms.
Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the diverse attributes and causes which are correlated to antibiotic resistance and the possible remedies for this problem.
Antibiotic resistance thus can be said to be the ability of a given microorganism to stand against the impacts of a given antibiotic. The said resistance is established over the time through what is seen as gene activities or plasmid exchange involving bacteria within the same genetic pool. Thus, if a bacterium is in a position to carry multiple resistant organism or genes is referred to as multi-resistant or as is commonly known as superbug. Basically, antibiotic resistant has been established to be an act of natural selection. This is due to the fact that antibiotic act or activities is commonly an environmental manipulation and this has been know to allow bacteria with diverse rate of mutation to carry on and equally reproduce. The said phenomenon is transmitted to their offspring’s and this creates a drug resistant colony. Diverse studies have established that individual pattern of using antibiotics can have a seamless effect on the occurrence of resistant organisms. Likewise, other factors playing role in the development of antibiotic resistance organisms encompasses misdiagnosis, improper usage of antibiotics, unnecessary prescriptions as well as the exploitation of antibiotics as animal feed additives (Salyers, et al 2005).
One of the most widespread resistant pathogen recognized is staphylococcus aureus. This bacterium is chiefly found on the mucous crusts including the skin and is also one of the most adjustable to the antibiotic manipulation. Strangely, just four years after mass production of penicillin began this bacterium was discovered and found to be extremely resistant to penicillin (Russell, et al 1990).
Natural resistance
It is widely accepted that antibiotic resistance is in essence achieved through a number of different and diverse ways. Some of these ways include genetic mutations which end up resulting into novel traits or activities that were not in the earlier generations related to that particular gene category. Though a number of scholars do believe antibiotic resistance develops or in essence involves the noble aspect of acquiring new DNA through incidence mutation, it is likely that the scope of resistant is an act of natural selection (Russell, et al 1990). This can be testified by the fact that lack of apposite control over the production of enzymes can trigger the growth of resistant bacteria’s. And this is well testified by the instances of penicillin resistance witnessed in staphylococcus bacteria. This illustrates that mutation can trigger loss of enzyme production in an organism and this would ascertain that bacteria producing greater quantity of pencillinase will automatically survive when exposed to any level of penicillin. (www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au ).
How they become resistant
Bacteria have shown to develop resistance through two major ways; either through mutation, or through exploiting their built-in design dynamisms to interchange DNA (horizontal gene transfer), bacteria basically share resistance organisms. In essence, an antibiotic eliminates or kills a bacterial cell simply by disrupting its principal functions. The fate is achieved in the cell in a similar manner that a saboteur can purposely cause an airplane to crash by simply disrupting its fuel mechanism. What the antibiotic does is to etch itself on the protein causing the protein to be dysfunctional. It ought to be noted that the typical protein is commonly encompassed in copying or duplicating the DNA, producing proteins or equally developing bacterial cell wall and all these are paramount to the growth and the reproduction of the bacteria (Russell, et al 1990). Thus, if the bacteria is involved or has instances of mutation in the DNA involved in coding for one of the given proteins, the given antibiotic cannot tackle or handle the modified protein, and in such a scenario the mutant bacteria moves on and survives. However, the process of natural selection may take place if antibiotics are available. This may be due to the availability of favorable environment which may ascertain the massive production of mutant bacteria (Amabile-cuevas 2007).
Conjugation
Conjugation is in essence a mechanism involving horizontal gene transfer. The procedure involves transduction as well as transformation. However, these tow principal mechanism do not entail cell-to-cell direct contact. Thus, in regard to antibiotics resistance, conjugation is presented as being a connector between two cells. This concept was discovered by Joshua Lederberg together with Edward Tatum in 1946 (Salyers, et al 2005).
Effects of antibiotic resistance
Anti-resistant organisms are becoming common in our lifes. These elements can either be classified as Gram-positive or equally Gram-negative. From the diverse studies undertaken by medical scholars it has been established that these organism can cause or lead to extreme morbidity, cost as well as high mortality rates. This feature regarding effects of resistance to antibiotic includes feeling sick, diarrhea and instances of being sick. Also fungal infections relating to digestive tract, vagina as well as the mouth may take place due to antibiotics for they do in one way or the other disrupts the normal growth of beneficial bacteria in the body (Russell,et al 1990). Thus, these observations are some of the commonly observed side effects linked to antibiotics resistance in the body. Having antibiotic resistance can be a threat to both man and animal. This can be allied to the fact that this can cause considerable damage and cost in regard to treatment (Russell, et al 1990).
The recent study has it that treating antibiotic resistant organisms is extremely difficult. Thus, the mutation of bacteria can only be checked in order to control the emergence of diverse bacteria strains resistant to antibiotics. Some of the dangers allied to this menace include loss of life as well as growth of terminal illness due to the antibiotic resistant bacteria (Salyers, et al 2005). Thus, it is prudence to note that excessive use of antibiotics in both man and animals has resulted in the growth of antibiotic resistant organisms. This trend has given room to the multiplication of different diseases which are becoming hard to treat. Some of these diseases include TB, HIV/AIDS, gonorrhea, malaria as well as staphylococcal infections among others. And this is also testified by resistance in treating staphylococcal infections (Russell,et al 1990). Developing stringent measures in regard to drug policies including the scope of usage and research can greatly help in controlling the growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria strains. It has emerged that the misuse or poor dosage of antibiotics do increase chances of preparing a suitable environment on which the resistant bacteria multiplies (www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au ). Thus, stakeholders as well as the government ought to establish core measures of dealing with the scope of dealing with antibiotics issues effectively. Where profound drug policies are established both doctors as well as the patients are given a room for thorough investigation before any type of antibiotic is given. Other measures include developing vaccines in order to minimize the chances of bacteria being treated from mutating.
Unlike conventional approach to treating bacteria infections, vaccines can be employed for they have proved to be more reliable than any other form of approach. This can be testified by the manner the global health body dealt with the issues of small pox and polio globally. Thus, the use of vaccines can be employed as principal alternative to the traditional usage of antibiotics and this can possibly reduce or eliminate the instances of antibiotic resistant strains (Amabile-cuevas 2007).
Equally, the use of mixed antibiotics can effectively eliminate the instances of gene mutation. In essence this can adequately deal with the issue of containing the emergence or the growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Consider the fact that there are instances such as witnessed in the treatment of E. coli and staphylococcus aureus which are resistance to antibiotics. And the use of mixed antibiotics has shown that they can be effective and the instances of antibiotic resistance bacteria are reduced (www.noah.co.uk 201
Antibiogram testing before prescription
Another key measure that can be employed in dealing with the issues correlated to antibiotic resistance is antibiogram testing before prescription. The significance of this approach lies in that the medical personnel can determine the nature of the bacteria being explored and the apposite antibiotic to be employed in order to deal with the problem. The utilization of this procedure would help in curbing the overuse as well as inappropriate exploitation of antibiotics. This includes the misuse of broad spectrum antibiotics which are available both in hospitals as well as over the counter prescriptions (Amabile-cuevas 2007). Thus, where testing is performed effectively equally the prescription would be appropriate and the medication can not be compromised and this could result in decreasing the instances of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Infection prevention and control
If apposite drug policies can be established the growth of bacteria infection can be contained. This can be allied to the fact that personal hygiene does contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Thus, if the government through the appropriate agencies can sensitize the citizens on the dangers of misusing antibiotics as well as on the importance of observing personal hygiene can help in controlling the spread of bacteria allied infections as well as eliminating instances of bacteria mutation in order to curb development of antibacterial resistant strains in the community (Amabile-cuevas 2007).
Evaluation
The dangers fuelled by misuse of antibiotics are real. This can be allied to the fact that the growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria’s is becoming a threat according to the medical experts. This is being allied to the challenges experienced in the course of attempting to treat such resistant strains as is being witnessed in TB and HIV. Therefore, the scope of antibiotic resistant bacteria can be said to be a threat to the entire human race if allowed to advance. So apposite usage of antibiotic prescriptions should be advocated this is crucial in dealing with the issue of tackling growth of antibiotic resistant strains (Wiley,et al 1997).
Conclusion
Proper antibiotic use should be advocated. It has emerged that antibiotic resistant bacteria has become a principal public concern. This is being allied to the fact that most bacteria are mutating to be resistant to available antibiotics. However, it would be proper to prescribe the antibiotics that can employs the suitable agents designed to kill the identified bacteria, by doing this the instances of allowing the bacteria to be resistant to drugs is reduced. Also taking the appropriate medication and antibiotic dose within the specified duration is highly recommended (Salyers, et al 2005).
References
Amabile-cuevas, Carlos F. (2007) Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria. Horizon Bioscience. 24-27.
Antibiotic Resistance (2010). Web.
Antibiotic resistant bacteria (2010). Web.
Russell, A.D. & Chopra,I (1990). Understanding Antibacterial. Ellis Howood Limited. 45-59.
Salyers, Abigale & Whitt, Dixie. (2005).Revenge of the Microbes. NY: ASM Press. 80-84.
Wiley, John,et al (1997) Antibiotic Resistance: Origins, Evolution.NY :Ciba Foundation. 37-39.