Sharing w/others – lessons learned

Patients who are over-prescribed antibiotics may develop drug resistance that lasts up to a year. This puts both them and the larger population at risk.

The more antibiotics are prescribed for coughs and flu-like illnesses, the more bacteria become resistant in a vicious cycle.

According to Reuters:

“Medical experts say overuse of antibiotics in Europe, the United States and other wealthy regions is building widespread resistance in and threatening vital medical treatments from hip replacements and cancer therapies, to intensive care.” PostID=267666″

Urinary tract infections are becoming difficult to treat as a result of growing resistance to antibiotic drugs.

The problem is caused by the overuse of antibiotics in the farming industry, which then enter the food chain.

BBC News reports:

“… researchers examined Escherichia coli bacteria, which are responsible for the vast bulk of human urinary tract infections. (UTIs). Looking at samples from humans and animals they found an identical gene for antibiotic resistance was present.” PostID=267554″

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is very hard to kill once you become infected. It is resistant to most antibiotics. For years, vancomycin was used — an old, rarely used medicine with significant side effects.

But MRSA has now developed resistance to vancomycin, too.

Reuters reports:

“… agricultural practices encourage the development of new drug resistance.”

The widespread use of antibiotics in animals turns them into:

“… the perfect testing ground for bacteria developing new ways to evade our drugs.” PostID=267335″