When it comes to a bacterial infection, if your natural immune system is not able to fight it, you will need antibiotics to kill the bacteria and return to good health. However, certain bacteria are resistant to standard antibiotics: these are known as antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This phenomenon is referred to as antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotic resistance affects every one of us, even if we rarely or never take antibiotics, have never been hospitalised, and consider ourselves in perfect health.
You can come into contact with resistant bacteria in your everyday environment or when receiving medical care. Resistant bacteria are most commonly spread via the hands.
Your gut microbiota plays an important role in preventing resistant bacteria from remaining in your body for a long time. However, when you take antibiotics, your gut microbiota is disrupted.
Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections (which are less common than viral infections), in particular for ENT (ear, nose and throat) and lung infections.
Healthcare professionals will always select the most appropriate antibiotic, prescribing a course of treatment long enough to destroy the bacteria causing the infection whilst minimising the impact on your gut microbiota.
Combatting antibiotic resistance
Each and every one of us can help tackle antibiotic resistance by following these simple guidelines in our everyday life:
- Never take antibiotics without prior medical advice; if you do so, you may experience side effects/adverse reactions, and the antibiotic in question may lead to the development of resistant bacteria in your body
- If experiencing pain or suffering from fever, avoid taking anti-inflammatory medication (such as aspirin or ibuprofen) without first consulting a medical professional; instead, opt for paracetamol, because anti-inflammatories can sometimes mask and even worsen bacterial infections in their early stages
- Make sure your vaccinations are up to date to not only prevent bacterial infections but also to prevent viral infections which may lead to secondary infections
- Always return any unused antibiotics to a pharmacy; never throw unused antibiotics in the bin or flush them down the toilet, as they could end up contaminating the environment
- Understand the difference between cleaning and disinfecting; only use biocides (e.g. disinfectants, fungicides, insecticides) when necessary, otherwise resistant bacteria may develop
- Always wash your hands after using the toilet; the majority of drug-resistant bacteria that affect humans are found in the human digestive tract
- After being in a public place (e.g. supermarket, bus, hospital, care home), always wash your hands thoroughly when returning home
- If you have been hospitalised abroad during the year, always notify the healthcare professional treating you
- Pet owners should always respect the appropriate hygiene rules and practices