...The Misuse of Antibiotics and Bacterial Resistance Samantha Onda Penn State Worthington Scranton Abstract The growing issue of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is growing more rapidly than anticipated. Numerous factors contribute to this growing issue and it creates a major concern for society today. The main factor in this growing issue is the continuous misuse and overuse of antibiotics. For example, people use them by prescribing antibiotics to themselves, even if they have acquired a viral infection. Furthermore, livestock is pumped full of antibiotics to promote growth and prevent infections. Moreover, bacteria have become smarter and evolved so that they are able to transmit the resistance to other bacteria. This is an important issue in today’s society because if antibiotics are continuously misused, they will no longer be affective. The world will go back to a time period when diseases, even something as simple as the common cold, killed mass numbers of people. From reading this paper, readers will learn that they need to properly educate themselves and others in our society to prevent complete resistance. Keywords: antibiotics, bacteria, resistance, misuse, educate The Misuse of Antibiotics and Bacterial Resistance Antibiotics have been used throughout centuries of medicine. An antibiotic is a medication used to treat infectious diseases. There are many different types of antibiotics, such as penicillin and tetracycline, that work differently to treat infections...
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...the course of history, as these advancements are discovered, people look past the cons that these advancements could bring if not controlled. Antibiotics, often called the “miracle drug,” are widely proclaimed because of the countless varieties there are and the variety of diseases they cure and treat. Four out of every five Americans have used one type of antibiotic to treat common infections such as strep throat and even life threatening infections such as pneumonia (CBS/AP 2013). Bacterial infections that were previously incurable are now things of the past and “superbugs” that have risen from different strains of antimicrobial resistant bacteria are becoming threats of the future. Antibiotics have saved and helped the lives of millions worldwide, however, the commonly abused drugs are becoming a threat to the natural world. Antibiotics are chemical substances produced by microorganisms which destroy or prevent the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms (McGrew 22). In 1928, Alexander Fleming, a Scottish bacteriologist, accidentally unearthed...
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...Swoboda, RN, MS;3 Wendy Ziai, MD;3,6 Sara E. Cosgrove, MD, MS1 objective. Diagnosing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is difficult, and misdiagnosis can lead to unnecessary and prolonged antibiotic treatment. We sought to quantify and characterize unjustified antimicrobial use for VAP and identify risk factors for continuation of antibiotics in patients without VAP after 3 days. methods. Patients suspected of having VAP were identified in 6 adult intensive care units (ICUs) over 1 year. A multidisciplinary adjudication committee determined whether the ICU team’s VAP diagnosis and therapy were justified, using clinical, microbiologic, and radiographic data at diagnosis and on day 3. Outcomes included the proportion of VAP events misdiagnosed as and treated for VAP on days 1 and 3 and risk factors for the continuation of antibiotics in patients without VAP after day 3. results. Two hundred thirty-one events were identified as possible VAP by the ICUs. On day 1, 135 (58.4%) of them were determined to not have VAP by the committee. Antibiotics were continued for 120 (76%) of 158 events without VAP on day 3. After adjusting for acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score and requiring vasopressors on day 1, sputum culture collection on day 3 was significantly associated with antibiotic continuation in patients without VAP. Patients without VAP or other infection received 1,183 excess days of...
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...and safety in Great Britain. The Health and Safety Executive are responsible for the enforcement of this act. - The Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 2001: This controls the import, export, supply and possession of dangerous or otherwise harmful drugs. - Health and Social Care Act: This Act, the regulations and guidance are part of a wider regulatory framework that includes regulation of professionals such as Doctors, Nurses and Social Workers. - The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971: This act creates three classes of controlled substances, A, B and C. It lays out the range of penalties for the illegal or unlicensed possession and possession with to supply, for each class. - Date Protection Act: This covers any data that can be used to identify a living individual. - Hazardous Waste Regulations: These replaced the Special Waste Regulations 1996 in England. They removed the requirement to pre-notify the Environment Agency before the movement of any hazardous waste and include a simpler method for tracking wastes once removed. The online and hard copy handouts and policy procedures that my place of work have put in place. These cover the assessment of needs, requirements, the storage, administration, recording procedures and disposal of each individual’s medication. Outcome 2: 2.1: Antibiotics: Amoxicillin/Amoxicillin, Penicillin based antibiotics which fight infection in the...
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...words, any oral dosage form that is capable to treat a disease caused by bacteria and microorganisms. Most instances. The antibacterial capsules they are ideally to be the drug of choice used for treating a specific bacterial infection. Such drug like penicillin are among the most widely effective anti-bacterial agent and also the least toxic drugs known that is in a form of oral route of administration in a capsule form. The Discovery of antibiotic and 1st antibacterial substances was in 1929 by Sir Alexander Fleming in which he discovers and describes the properties of antibiotic, penicillin. As he observed that the Bacterium Staphylococcus aureus was destroyed by the mold Penicillium notatum wherein it became more significant and widely used for treating soldiers with open wounds during World War II. Curing or treating battlefield wound infections and pneumonia. Today, the antibacterial capsules are routinely prescribed and the simple cure they provide for so many infectious diseases is often taken for granted. Unfortunately, the misuse of these life-saving medication is now becoming more occurring in the Philippine country side, other people might tend to use and prefer automatically antibacterial agents to treat any form of wounds & diseases as a medication for better relief while others also attempt to but a medicine to the pharmacy and ask for the available antibacterial agents, which is a habit form of malpractice in dispensing these regulated drugs without the prescription...
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...such example of a real life human creation that has developed unintended consequences is the invention and use of antibiotics. The intended effect of antibiotics is to kill bacteria that cause infections in order to...
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...2001). In August of 2011 there was a nationwide outbreak of salmonella that killed one person and infected a reported 76 others. These outbreaks came from infected ground turkey and spread across 26 states. The USDA stepped in and issued a warning stop anyone from further contracting the bacteria, and were also able to trace the source (Funaro, 2011). Patients with salmonella poisoning may experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. In more severe cases patients may suffer from abdominal cramping as well. The symptoms can be present from 4 to 7 days, and patients need to be very aware of not becoming dehydrated. The treatment for salmonella is somewhat controversial. Some doctors recommend using antibiotics to treat the disease, while others feel that antibiotic use only...
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...Impetigo Impetigo causes blister‐like sores. The sores can fill with pus and form scabs, and scratching can spread the infection. Impetigo is caused by bacteria. It is contagious and usually occurs in children. It is the most common bacterial skin infection presented by children to primary care physicians. Treatment options include topical antibiotics (antibiotic creams), oral antibiotics (antibiotics taken by mouth), and disinfectant solutions. There is no generally agreed standard treatment, and the evidence on what intervention works best is not clear. Good hygiene can help prevent impetigo, which often develops when there is a sore or a rash that has been scratched repeatedly. Impetigo may affect skin anywhere on the body but commonly occurs around the nose and mouth, hands, and forearms, and in young children, the diaper area The two types of impetigo are bullous impetigo (large blisters) and non-bullous impetigo (crusted) impetigo. The non-bullous or crusted form is most common. It's usually caused by S. aureus but can also be caused by infection with group A streptococcus. Non-bullous begins as tiny blisters, which eventually burst and leave small wet patches of red skin that may weep fluid. Gradually, a tan or yellowish-brown crust covers the affected area, making it look like it has been coated with honey or brown sugar. Bullous impetigo is nearly always caused by S. aureus, which releases toxins that trigger the formation of larger fluid-containing blisters that...
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...responsibility in the anthrax situation? In your discussion, make reference to the Social Responsibility of Corporations Matrix, Exhibit 2.2 (p. 48) and the models of business ethics (found in e-book, pp. 47–49). My first action, as a representative of Bayer, would be to release production capabilities under specific contractual controls to other pharmaceutical facilities in order to meet the demand for the antibiotic, this enables Bayer to meet its 'common good' practice sited in its corporate policy by matching supply with demand, maintain control of its product, remain profitable, and benefit from increased production. During times of public welfare, epidemics, war, or terroristic actions companies should recognize the human element, hold it to a higher standard, and utilize methods that ensure that the company is not put into jeopardy and meets the public demand at the same time. If Bayer would have been open and honest about its production capabilities (shortages), made an effort to contract with third-party facilities to manufacture large quantities of the antibiotic, and reduce their profit margins to make it affordable, the company could have upheld its corporate policy, remained profitable, met the public demand, perserved its reputation, and its corporate social responsibility collectively. The corporate social responsibility lies in being prepared for these such events. In responding to your questions: We have to look at all sides and consider what is right...
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...IMPLANT DENTISTRY / VOLUME 20, NUMBER 5 2011 331 Identification and Treatment of Bisphosphonate-Associated Actinomycotic Osteonecrosis of the Jaws Cameron Y. S. Lee, DMD, MD, PHD,* Francis D. Pien, MD, MPH,† and Jon B. Suzuki, DDS, PHD, MBA‡ isphosphonates (BPs) are a pharmacologic class of synthetic analogs of inorganic pyrophosphate that has an affinity for calcium.1 They are used in the treatment of various malignant and benign metabolic conditions, such as hypercalcemia of malignancy; Paget’s disease of bone; multiple myeloma; and metastases from distant sites such as breast, thyroid, prostate glands, and lung. The oral form of BPs is indicated in the management of osteoporosis, fibrous dysplasia, and most recently, osteogenesis imperfecta in the pediatric population.2,3 Currently, there are 5 bisphosphonates in clinical use: alendronate (Fosamax; Merck, Whitehouse Station, NJ), risedronate (Actonel; Proctor & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, Cincinnati, OH), ibandronate (Boniva; Roche Pharmaceuticals, Nutley, NY), zoledronate (Zometa; Novartis Pharmaceuticals, East Hanover, NJ), and pamidronate (Aredia; Novartis Pharmaceuticals). All 5 medications differ in their binding affinity to bone, potency, and duration.2–5 B Osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ) is a condition characterized by necrotic exposed bone in the jaws of patients receiving intravenous or oral bisphosphonate therapy. A review of the medical and dental literature reveals that the pathoetiology of ONJ remains...
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...Humans are not perfect and they will never be perfect because they were built to make mistakes. In life there is a balance. We balance the right of the world by doing something wrong and in this way we get along in life. If we did not make wrong choices we would never get anything done. Throughout history people have made mistakes every single day. Some errors turn out to be a good thing while some turn out to be something disastrous. The discovery of Penicillin and the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, two well remembered events in history, are examples of faults made by everyday people. Sir Alexander Fleming was a young bacteriologist when an accidental discovery led to one of the great developments of modern medicine in 1929. Having left a plate of staphylococcus bacteria uncovered, Fleming noticed that a mold that had fallen on the culture had killed many of the bacteria. He identified the mold as penicillium notatum, similar to the kind found on bread. On February 14, 1929, Fleming introduced his mold by-product called penicillin to cure bacterial infections. Alexander Fleming's mistake saved many lives and still continues to help patients today. The Gulf oil spill is recognized as the worst oil spill in U.S. history. Within days of the April 20, 2010 explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico that killed 11 people, underwater cameras revealed the BP pipe was leaking oil and gas on the ocean floor about 42 miles off the coast of Louisiana...
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...following four abnormal processes: a higher than normal amount of sebum production (influenced by androgens), excessive keratin deposition leading to comedone (blackheads) formation, colonization of the follicle by Propionibacterium acnes bacteria, and the local release of pro-inflammatory chemicals in the skin. Azithromycin is an antibiotic. Antibiotics work by suppressing the growth of bacteria that contribute to acne symptoms. Overall, Azithromycin is rated as a mediocre treatment for acne. Users report that, Azithromycin is somewhat effective for improving acne symptoms and that this medication tends to have mild side effects. Although there is a lot of research supporting the use of azithromycin to treat acne, it is not commonly used for this purpose. Numerous studies have shown that azithromycin can produce a significant improvement of acne symptoms for some patients. The major limitation of the use of azithromycin to treat acne are the increasing levels of azithromycin resistant bacteria. The research data about the antibiotic susceptibility of Propionibacterium acnes bacteria indicates that resistance to all of the macrolide family antibiotics (especially azithromycin, erythromycin and clarithromycin) is becoming more common. Recent testing of P. acnes bacteria isolated from acne patients has indicated that a significant percentage of these bacteria are resistant to azithromycin, as well as the related erythromycin and clarithromycin. Erythromycin...
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...1.1 Identify the differences between Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi and parasites. The common characteristics of bacteria: Bacteria are microscopic single-cell organisms. Different types of bacteria can be identified by their size and shape. Bacteria can multiply outside the body. Most bacteria need moisture, time, warmth and nutrients to survive and multiply. Some bacteria are helpful. Some bacteria produce toxins which cause unpleasant symptoms. Most bacteria can be treated with antibiotics. Some bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. The common characteristics of viruses: Viruses can only be seen with an electron microscope because they are so small. Only one or two particles are required to cause an infection. Viruses cannot survive for very long outside the body. Viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics but in some cases are treated with antiviral medication. The best defence against viruses is immunisation. Viruses can mutate to create new strains. Viruses can only multiply once they invade their host cell. The common characteristics of fungi: Fungi appears in the form of yeasts and moulds. Fungi infections can be localised or systemic. Some fungi are helpful. Fungi infections are treated with antifungal medication. The common characteristics of parasites: Parasites can live in or on the host body. Parasites survive by feeding from a host. Parasites are controlled and destroyed by antiparasitic medication. 1.2 Identify...
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...Although the term poop pills may sound disgusting, it may just be a life changing antibiotic. Thousands of Americans get Clostridium difficile (C-diff) each year and 14,000 of them die from C-diff. But, there is an antibiotic that’s known to destroy the C-diff and also harm the body as well. Though studies show that a fecal transplant can restore the bacteria and prevent infections to form in your body. Doctors have gave the transplant a try, but they have not really been successful. The stool that is transplanted usually comes from relatives, and doctors extract the bacteria from the poop and insert it into gel capsules. Even though this pill seems gross, the pill does not affect the smell or health of your body. This transplant does require...
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...serious conditions. Women are at greater risk of long-term complications from untreated infections. They may develop scarring of the fallopian tubes, which can prevent future pregnancy. Infection can also lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This may involve ongoing pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. Gonorrhea infection may pass to a newborn infant during delivery. Treatment of Gonorrhea: Modern antibiotics can cure most gonorrhea infections. However, the emergence of drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea is a growing challenge. Most states provide free diagnosis and treatment at state-sponsored health clinics. Doctors will usually give an injection of strong antibiotics. Some follow-up may also be necessary. Some strains of gonorrhea developed resistance to common antibiotics. These cases may require more extensive treatment (usually with more expensive antibiotics) or combinations of antibiotics. Scientists are working to develop vaccines to prevent gonorrhea infection. Note: The law requires healthcare professionals to report the infection, usually to the County Public Health Department. Public health officials will identify, contact, test, and treat any sexual partners of the affected person to help prevent the spread of the infection. Health officials will also contact other people these individuals may have had sexual contact with. ● Discuss strategies to prevent sexually transmitted...
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