Read about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the FDA approval process here.
In my molecular biology lab last week, we learned about a new phenomenon that is becoming one of the greatest global health challenges of our time—antibiotic resistance.
What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are antimicrobial substances used in treating bacterial infections. They either kill the bacteria or prevent its growth by attacking its cell wall and inhibiting protein production. These drugs are powerful mechanisms in killing deadly germs and bacteria and have revolutionized the way we treat infections. These common infections include strep throat, whooping cough, and urinary tract infection. Antibiotics are not meant to treat viruses such as the flu, common cold, and many cases of chest colds (bronchitis); in fact, they do not work on viruses. The structure of viruses differ greatly than the structure of bacteria. Viruses do not have cell walls that can be attacked by antibiotics; instead, they have a protective protein coat. Additionally, bacteria can reproduce itself while viruses cannot. Therefore, the virus will attach itself to healthy cells and instruct those to make new viruses.
What is antibiotic resistance?
Antibiotic resistance is when the germ or bacteria (not your body) develops the ability to defeat the antibiotics designed to kill them. Resistance to antibiotics is a naturally occurring process, however, the misuse of antibiotics is accelerating resistance. Antibiotic resistance can impact anyone at any stage of life. Each year in the United States, roughly 2.8 million people are infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria and ~35,000 die. Anytime antibiotics are used to treat an infection, side effects can occur and the ability to resist is strengthened. This is why it’s important to only use antibiotics for bacterial or parasitic infections when directed by your doctor.
Why is this alarming?
If antibiotics are no longer viable resources for treating infections, more expensive medications will need to be used resulting in longer durations in hospitals and treatment which can contribute to financial stress. Additionally, antibiotics are crucial for many medical procedures such as organ transplants, joint replacements, cancer therapy, cesarean sections, and chronic illness treatments. Overtime, if misused, many of these procedures will be dangerous to perform and common infections will be harder to overcome.
For instance, nearly half of the world’s population lives in areas at risk for malaria infection. Two out of the four known malaria parasites that infect humans (P. falciparum and P. vivax) are confirmed to have resistance to anti-malaria drugs. This is only one example of the many other antibiotic resistant bacteria that exist today.
What can we do to prevent resistance?
Taking the necessary precautions when using antibiotics is imperative to sustaining a future where antibiotics are still useful and capable of defeating deadly bacteria.
The CDC recommends that we
prevent infections in the first place and reduce the spread of germs
increase access to antibiotics and reduce their unnecessary use
invest in prevention tactics such as educational campaigns, vaccine development, and diagnostics for better prevention, detection, and treatment
keep antibiotics and antibiotic resistant threats out of the environment by improving sanitation and having clean access to water
Read the CDC’s Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States (2019) report here.
Disclaimer: All information in my newsletters are for educational purposes only and should not be substituted as medical advice. Please consult with your doctor or a healthcare professional if you have concerns or questions about treatment.
Looking ahead, topics include: the types of antibodies, clinical trials, and more.
If you have any questions, please email me at reemlfawaz@gmail.com.