Superbugs are bacteria resistant to most antibiotics, which can thrive despite harsher treatments. Misuse of antibiotics, such as prescribing them without diagnostic tests or stopping treatment early, can contribute to their development. Antibacterial products may also increase bacterial infection rates.
Superbugs, also called superbugs, are bacteria that have become resistant to most antibiotics. When doctors prescribe the typical antibiotics to fight an infection caused by superbugs, the antibiotics usually fail to eradicate the bacteria. Instead, the bacteria can actually thrive despite the drug, sometimes even killing the patient. To combat resistant bacteria, doctors often turn to even stronger antibiotics, but it appears that some bacteria are developing the ability to thrive despite harsher antibiotic treatments.
In the past, a doctor would prescribe antibiotics to treat a bacterial infection, and over time, the person would get better. Today, that can still happen in most cases, but scientists have become concerned that antibiotics are being misused, a situation implicated in the development of superbugs. For example, this type of misuse can occur when a person has an infection that appears to be bacterial, but their doctor doesn’t do diagnostic tests to make sure the infection is bacterial. He can then prescribe an antibiotic that the patient does not really need.
In some cases, parents may request antibiotics that their children don’t really need, and their doctors may feel pressured to provide them. For example, a child may have an upper respiratory infection that looks similar to a cold but has been around for so long that their parents think it must be something serious. They may call the doctor, tired of waiting for the infection to clear up on its own, and insist on an antibiotic. If your doctor prescribes one without being completely sure that the condition is caused by bacteria, it could create an optimal situation for superbugs to develop.
Sometimes people start taking the antibiotics they need but stop taking them as soon as they feel better, even if they haven’t finished the full course prescribed by their doctor. This is a problem because it can allow the bacteria to survive the patient’s completed portion of the treatment. Then, the bacteria can reproduce, making the person sick again and possibly creating bacteria resistant to that antibiotic.
Some people believe that antibacterial soaps and cleaning fluids are also responsible for the development of drug-resistant bacteria. Many people buy these products because they think they can help prevent bacterial infections. Instead, some experts believe they may actually increase bacterial infection rates. In fact, some advise avoiding products labeled as capable of killing 99% of germs and bacteria.
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