Antibiotic resistance is a continuously evolving problem in modern medicine. One such example I will focus on is that of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, or MDR TB. Tuberculosis back in the early 1900's, according to CDC, was the leading cause of death among US citizens. But with the invent and usage of effective antibiotics (streptomycin in the 1940s, isoniazid in the 1950s, and rifampicin in the 60s) tuberculosis was becoming less and less of a threat to human lives, and thus people stopped their treatment of TB when they felt better, and TB, as people knew it, was all but a thing of the past.
Fast forward to present day and we find ourselves in a situation with TB reemerging and some of these TB cases becoming unaffected by the viable antibiotics of the past, such as rifampicin and isoniazid. The reason for this resistance is because people afflicted by TB in the past cut short their treatment, due to feeling better, causing the resistant subset of TB flora, thought to be dead, to survive within the lungs in a latent state. Later on in life, during the onset of an immune compromising disease, the bacteria become active and flourish once more and the highly infectious MDR TB is free to infect those unfortunately nearby.
I believe we as a people need to be concerned about this because drug resistance in today's modern medicine poses a serious health threat to humans. However, I am pretty certain most people have the mindset that they need not worry about a reemerging disease such as TB, until the unfortunate day arrives when a drug resistant disease, whether it be MRSA, MDR TB, or any other disease caused by drug-resistant bacteria, happens to infect them or a loved one.
I believe that reemerging drug-resistant pathogens in general has affected the way that many patients are being treated these days, and not necessarily those afflicted by MDR TB. Although using a directly observed treatment is obviously the best solution for making sure people complete their antibiotic treatment in its entirety, it is not the most cost effective. I believe if more people were well educated about the rise of drug resistant diseases, they will be more inclined to complete their treatment leading to the end of MDR TB's reign on people.
"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change." -Charles Darwin
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I agree, we do need to be careful with not just MDR TB but other, perhaps more common resistant diseases as well. We're lucky to have treatments for them, and we shouldn't always take them for granted...
ReplyDeleteDrug resistance will always be a problem with treatment. Not a lot can be done when the infections not only adapt on their own but people are too naive to follow instructions. Just hope that technology can keep up with the ever changing diseases.
ReplyDeleteNice quote at the end. Unfortunately, I think germs have the advantage over humans in terms of adaptability. TB, staph and other MDR infections will probably always be lurking in the wings, just waiting to strike.
ReplyDeleteFrom someone who has had a MRSA infection, it is something that everyone should take seriously. It is the individual's responsibility to make sure that they finish their prescription as prescribed by their physician. Sure you feel better before the antibiotics are gone, but everyone should finish them. It's a small inconvenience, but you can prevent others including loved ones from possibly getting infected by a stronger more resistant infection.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason viruses and bacteria are trading genes if that's what i remember, which makes it resistance to certain antibiotics. Sooner or later we have to find a way to stop this or at least be two steps ahead. If for some reason we can't find a way to stop the resistance gene, they might resist most of the antibiotics we give to the patient leading the patient in fatal condition.
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Germs, virus and bacteria will always find a way to survive. In places of poverty where medical treatment is limited dangerous itself, these infection will live. Science and the study of biological diseases has taken huge steps in the past 25 years, yet we are still, as humanity, far away from invincible. There is no way to eliminate a disease from the world. There is no way to completely control something to violent. Epidemiology strives every day to make these dreams possible, pray that we wipe them out before they wipe us out. infectious disease is no laughing matter. it has claimed many lives over the years. The study of illness prevention is something that everyone should contribute in.
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