ANTIBIOTICS AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE World Antibiotic Awareness Week

ANTIBIOTICS AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE World Antibiotic Awareness Week www. fittowork. net

WORLD ANTIBIOTIC AWARENESS WEEK About the week Antibiotic Awareness Week is an annual, global event to raise awareness about the serious health issue of antibiotic resistance. Our aim is to reduce antibiotic resistance and educate Australians about the steps they can take to preserve the miracle of antibiotics. HANDLE ANTIBIOTICS WITH CARE 2

ANTIBIOTICS Antibiotics are powerful medicines that fight bacterial infection Literal translation anti – against biotic – living things 3

DISCOVERY Alexander Fleming in 1928 He was an extremely messy scientist Came back from holiday to see a mould growing on his Staphylococcus agar plates Noticed that the Staphylococcus couldn’t grow anywhere near the mould The mould prevented bacterial growth! 4

HOW ANTIBIOTICS WORK Antibiotics can be either Broad Spectrum Kill a wide range of bacteria e. g. Penicillin Narrow Spectrum Kill a specific type or group of bacteria e. g. Isoniazid Antibiotics work in one of two ways Bactericidal Kills the bacteria Bacteriostatic Prevents the bacteria from dividing 5

MIRACLE CURE? Before the 1930 s there were no treatments for bacterial infections Following the discovery of penicillin industry started searching for more antibiotics in nature Streptomycin was the first drug to have an effect on tuberculosis – a condition previously untreatable Surgeons could attempt more dangerous operations 6

ANTIBIOTIC USE AND MISUSE During the 1940 s and 1950 s antibiotics were extremely effective They were (and still are) widely prescribed, often for medical conditions that did not require them Antibiotics started to be used in agriculture: dosing cattle with antibiotics increases yield, and battery farming relies on antibiotics to control infection By the 1970 s the World was awash with antibiotics. 7

OVERUSE OF ANTIBIOTICS Overuse of antibiotics can damage our normal/good bacteria. Many antibiotics prescribed by the doctor are broad spectrum These kill the body’s good bacteria as well as the bad With the good bacteria gone there is more room for bad microbes to invade! 8

COSTS OF ANTIBIOTIC OVERUSE IN THE US Overall Costs: The Costs of ARIs, in Billions $20 billion in excess health care costs $35 billion in societal costs $8 million in additional hospital days Reducing ARIs by just 20% would: Save $3. 2 to $5. 2 billion in health care costs each year Eliminate up to $11. 3 million in additional in-hospital days for patients with ARIs.

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE Many bacteria have developed the ability to become resistant to antibiotics. These bacteria are now a major threat in our hospitals. Antibiotic resistant bacteria include Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) 10

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE The Causes Overuse Antibiotics used to treat infections when they are not needed or not effective i. e. for the flu Misuse Not completing a prescribed course Using antibiotics not prescribed for you 11

HOW ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE CAN BE PREVENTED Antibiotics should be the last line of defence NOT the first Most common infections will get better by themselves through time, bed rest, liquid intake and healthy living. Only take antibiotics prescribed by a doctor If prescribed antibiotics, finish the course. Do not use other peoples or leftover antibiotics they be specific for some other infection 12

SOLUTION: USE OF APPROPRIATE VACCINATIONS Researchers have found that greater use of flu shots was accompanied by a reduction in prescriptions for antibiotics. 13

Thank You www. fittowork. net 14