When the first antibiotic, penicillin, was discovered in the 1920s, it provided a cure for a range of bacterial infections that were once considered deadly. Its timely discovery also generated a renewed inquiry, leading to the discovery of numerous other antibiotics which have been influential in the fight against infection. Unfortunately, these notable advancements in health care are now threatened by the emergence of antibiotic resistance. For a clearer understanding of this phenomenon, it is essential to examine what antibiotics are, how they work, and what resistance to them entails.

What are antibiotics, and how do they work?

Antibiotics are specific medicines that are used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. There are some similarities between human cells and bacteria, yet antibiotics are uniquely designed to destroy bacteria without interfering with the functions of the human cells. Different antibiotics attack and kill bacteria in different ways, but they generally perform their functions by attacking some aspect of bacteria which is lacking in human cells. A good example is a beta-lactam antibiotics like penicillin, which kills bacteria surrounded by a cell wall by inhibiting their ability to link molecules together. Quinolones like ciprofloxacin, which affect the ability of bacteria to copy DNA, is another example.

Understanding antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance occurs when the response of the bacteria to the use of the medicine changes, allowing them to withstand its effects. Bacteria resistance to antibiotics is a consequence of evolution by natural selection which enables the mutant bacteria to reproduce and pass on the trait, leading to the emergence of a fully resistant generation.

Although this specific type of drug resistance evolves naturally, it has reached alarming proportions in recent times such that bacterial infections like tuberculosis and gonorrhea are now difficult to treat. Studies show that the overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics can hasten the development of resistant bacteria, thus affecting the length and efficacy of treatments.

Other factors which influence antibiotic resistance include:

• Incorrect diagnosis or unnecessary prescription of antibiotics
• Use of unclean bio-medical equipment
• Improper use of antibiotic medications by patients. (This could involve underuse or overuse of prescribed drugs)
• The use of antibiotics as food additives for livestock to improve growth.

The Way Out

It should be noted that bacteria, not the human or animals they inhabit, become resistant to antibiotics. This phenomenon has risen to such dangerous proportions that urgent action is needed to prevent an era when the most common and easily treated infections become deadly. Changes need to be made in the prescription and use of antibiotics as well as the use of adequately sterilized biomedical equipment. The practice of safe hygiene, vaccination, and other healthy lifestyle changes can also help to combat the problem of antibiotic resistance.