Over-Prescribed Antibiotics

Drug resistant bacteria may pose a serious threat in the not too distant future due to the overly prescribed use of antibiotics.

Since the inception of sulfa antibiotics in 1932 and more notably the mass production of penicillin in 1942, the use of antibiotics to treat and prevent bacterial infection has skyrocketed. These antibiotics continually prove to be a valuable asset to fighting illness, but scientists and doctors are becoming increasingly aware of the great potential risk in using the medications.

As Western medicine developed the cultural mentality shifted from preventative medicine and build the immune system to trying to find the next best drug. The repeated use of these drugs actually destroys people’s immune system and when a new strain of drug resistant bacteria arises the immune system becomes helpless and unable to defend itself.

Hospitals suffer from rampant spread of drug resistant bacteria and in an increasing number of cases infections remain unaffected by even our strongest antibiotic created thus far.

In terms of retail pharmacy I fill plenty of antibiotics every day from azithromyacin to amoxicillin and doxycycline among plenty of others. Majority of the antibiotic prescriptions treat customers who suffer minor cold and flu but wish to stop the bug in its track. A handful of customers have antibiotic prescriptions on file with refills so they can call in and have their antibiotic filled at the onset of illness. This self diagnosis does a disservice to the customer as in some cases an infection may not be present and with the constant use of antibiotics the immune system becomes more prone to illness.

However, antibiotics do help in cases where they are necessary and if customers continually take antibiotics doctors and pharmacists must ensure that the customers understand the importance in taking the medication properly to avoid the evolution of drug resistant bacteria. When a customer picks up an antibiotic I must stress above all else, finish the entire duration of the antibiotic. Even if the customer feels markedly improved after a couple of days the bacteria may not have been completely eradicated from the system. The bacteria remaining may then evolve and become resistant to that antibiotic next time around.