Antibiotic resistance

You may well have heard of the growing issue of antibiotic resistance, which is currently becoming an increasingly pressing problem as the number of drug-resistant bloodstream infections rose by 35% from 2013 to 2017. This statistic showcases the urgency with which antibiotic resistance should be treated. Following these concerning statistics, there is much work that needs to be done to combat this issue.

How does antibiotic resistance develop?

Through random mutations in DNA, bacteria have gained the ability to resist antibiotics. Therefore, the survival of these bacteria means they are likely to reproduce and pass down this gene, resulting in more colonies of resistant bacteria.

With antibiotics being wrongly utilized in hospitals and through livestock globally, many factors contribute to increasing antibiotic resistance. For example, 20% of antibiotic prescriptions by GPs in the UK are inappropriate. Many doctors face pressure to prescribe antibiotics to patients, whose attitude is cemented by the lack of general education regarding antibiotics.

Over 40% of patients believe antibiotics will help with viruses. In conjunction with this, there are still many patients, who do not adhere to their course of treatment, which only worsens illness as it allows more resistant bacteria to survive and reproduce. Consequently, more antibiotics are prescribed to the patient to counter new infections, potentially leading to a recurring need for another antibiotic dose.

Summary

Year 2024 marks the end of the government's 5-year plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance, initiated in January 2019. The plan aimed to optimize the use of antimicrobials, diminishing the need for antibiotics, and encouraging the development of new antimicrobials. Assisted by the NHS Long Term Plan, displaying the NHS's commitment to support and enforce the AMR National Action Plan, it involved access to a multitude of old and new treatments, the employment of preventative measures, infection prevention, and antimicrobial supervision. After looking at the work already done towards antibiotic resistance, presumably, there is a bright future in the antibiotic resistance movement.

Written by Ayanfe O.

Moderated by Joanna