National Antibiotic Awareness Week is Nov. 18 thru 24--Why we should care
By Thomas Richardson, Clinical Pharmacist
You might be asking yourself…..why do we need a week to recognize antibiotic use?? Antibiotic awareness week is dedicated to recognizing the use—and more specifically, the overuse—of antibiotics.
The goal of this campaign is to raise awareness about the rising rates of antibiotic resistance in the U.S as it relates to antibiotic overprescribing.
2.8 million reasons to look at antibiotic use
According to the CDC, at least 2.8 million people are infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria annually. Antibiotic resistant infections often lead to higher rates of treatment failure and death due to limited treatment options. Unfortunately, data shows that 30-50% of all antibiotics in hospital settings and approximately 28% of antibiotics prescribed in emergency departments and primary care offices are unnecessary. To combat this issue, education to health care providers and patients is essential to help avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics.
Antibiotic overuse examples
Common types of overuse include:
- Taking antibiotics longer than necessary (most infections are treated with a 5-7 day course).
- Using broader-spectrum antibiotics than necessary.
- Treating conditions for which antibiotics are not effective (e.g., viral infections).
Overuse of antibiotics most commonly occur with certain disease states or suspected types of infection. This includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) flare-up (often viral or inflammatory in nature), upper respiratory tract infections (most commonly viral), suspected urinary tract infections (often over-diagnosed), and treating cellulitis when it is likely venous or blood flow insufficiency. None of these examples will be fixed by an antibiotic course. And, not only do they not help, but each exposure to an antibiotic alters the community of harmless microorganisms that live on and inside a healthy person, performing essential functions like aiding digestion, producing vitamins, and training the immune system.
So the next time you get an infection, the same antibiotic may not be effective due to the presence of resistant bacteria now being a part of YOU.
The side effects of antibiotics
Misuse of antibiotics not only contributes to antibiotic resistance but also exposes you to unnecessary side effects. For instance, taking doxycycline increases your odds of sun exposure skin rashes, so taking a course of it in the summer due to a viral cold could cut into your gardening time. Similarly, taking ciprofloxacin for a suspected urinary tract infection that might just be dehydration could lead to a type of infection that causes severe diarrhea. Nearly 20% of all emergency room visits are related to adverse reactions from antibiotics, making it crucial to weigh the risks and benefits of each antibiotic course carefully.
Names like Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella Pneumoniae (CRKP) are not only difficult to pronounce but are also names of some worrisome resistant bacteria that are becoming more common. Infections with these bacteria increase the odds of death by 2-3 times, due to lack of good treatment options. If you want to really scare someone on Halloween, dress up as one of these bugs!
Final thoughts on antibiotic use
It is important for both clinical providers and patients to educate themselves about appropriate antibiotic use. As antibiotic resistance continues to rise, the antibiotics we overuse today may not be effective in the future for our children and grandchildren. It is crucial to exercise caution and think critically before prescribing or requesting antibiotics.