William Wagner

CTA #6
20 April 2015

"Get Smart: Antibiotic Resistance Questions and Answers." Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 18 Dec. 2013. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.

1.
When patients ask doctors for antibiotics in order to treat
infections that do not necessitate antibiotics, it decreases the
effectiveness of antibiotics overall. The more antibiotics are used, the
more bacteria become resistant to them and not being able to treat
serious infections with antibiotics due to MDR (multiple drug-resistant)
bacteria becomes a major issue. When antibiotics are used
irresponsibly, such as to treat viral infections like the common cold,
they promote the adaptation and growth of resistant bacteria, which
learn to deal with the drug as they are exposed. According to the CDC,
bacteria can either neutralize antibiotics, flush them out rapidly, or
change the attack site altogether so that the antibiotic does not inhibit
the function of the cells. It is important to only use antibiotics when it
is appropriate to reduce the amount of bacteria that can adapt to
withstand them. If everyone would adopt this strategy, bacteria would

be less likely to become drug resistant and there would be fewer cases
where antibiotics would be ineffective. Additionally, since antibiotics
are useless against viral infections, it is absolutely pointless to
prescribe them as a treatment, and only encourages the development
of resistant strains. Doctors should practice responsible assessment
when using antibiotics, only giving them to patients who absolutely
require them not patients who simply want them to make themselves
feel secure and well attended-to. Also, patients should take it upon
themselves to understand the difference between viral and bacterial
infections in order to prevent the misuse of antibiotics.
2.
The pro of using antibiotics only when necessary is decreased
development of antibiotic resistance something that can cause fatal
bacterial infections or cause serious complications in the patient. There
is no foreseeable con to this strategy other than patients feeling illattended by their doctors. That is why it is important that the public
should be well educated in the matter of viral versus bacterial
infections, and that antibiotics will do them no good in the treatment of
viral infections. Those who are not educated in such matters will likely
not change their way of doing things knowing when and when not to
use antibiotics is not of concern to them, only that they are sick and
therefor they must have antibiotics (perhaps not). This decision to use
antibiotics when not needed contributes to the spread of drug-resistant

bacteria. However, others who have a better idea of the difference

between viral and bacterial infections could make informed decisions
when requesting antibiotics. The decision not to use an antibiotic when
its unnecessary could help the drug to remain effective against
bacteria, and prevent cases in which selecting an antibiotic could be
difficult for doctors. The CDC states that the DNA coding for antibiotic
resistance is grouped into a single package easily moved between
cells. It is easier for bacteria to become resistant than most people
realize. Making the right choice when using antibiotics could mean the
difference between a strain becoming resistant or remaining
susceptible.
3.
Ignoring the problem of antibiotic resistance could have
devastating effects on public health. Continuing to overuse antibiotics
could lead to the development of more drug resistant bacterial strains,
even potentially the neutralization of known antibiotics together.
Without effective antibiotics, life-threatening infections due to minor
scratches could become common. Injuries and wounds that we
currently dont have to worry about could potentially become a serious
issue in the medical field. After penicillin was developed, it was used to
prevent infections such as gangrene during wartime. Without effective
antibiotics such as this, casualties would be much higher in professions
prone to injury, such as athletics and military positions. It is not enough

to simply hope that the problem of antibiotic resistance remains under

control. As our population increases, so does the use of antibiotics. It is
important to discourage the unnecessary use of these drugs to prevent
resistant bacteria from affecting the population on a massive scale.
The average life expectancy of humans would crash if we would once
again have to worry about a simple scratch causing a fatal infection.
Life would be much different in these circumstances people would
have to be much more cautious than they are today, especially
considering the continuing surge of Earths population. If resistant
bacteria begin to spread from person-to-person, particularly in urban
settings, it would be extremely difficult and expensive to find effective
treatment, if there is one. For the sake of overall health, it is vital that
antibiotics remain effective, and that bacteria remain susceptible.