by Shreya Srivastava
Photo byDr_Microbe on Unsplash
If you’ve ever gotten a bacterial infection before, chances are your doctor prescribed you antibiotics and repeatedly instructed, “Make sure you finish the entire course of treatment and don’t just stop when you think you’re healed.” But why? Why is it so important to continue using medication even after you’re healed? The answer comes in two parts: to prevent the infection from reappearing and superbugs (Northern Ireland Civil Service, n.d.). A superbug, as defined by MayoClinic, is a strain of bacteria, parasite or fungi that is most antibiotics or other conventional forms of treatment (Tosh, 2018). Therefore, treating them is made a lot more challenging, if not impossible.
How Superbugs Are Formed
All living organisms have the goal to survive and reproduce, bacteria included which are known to reproduce fascinatingly fast, such as the E. coli strain that doubles every 20 minutes (Columbia University, 2021). Everytime something reproduces, there are chances that genes will be mutated and adapt to their changing environment. Therefore, every time someone misses a dosage of their medicine or takes less than they are supposed to, they are not killing all the bacteria. In just a matter of a few days, the bacteria has grown exponentially and with each reproduction, chances of mutations are inevitable. Some of these mutations help the bacteria adapt to the antibiotics and eventually, evolve to effectively fight against it (University of California at Berkeley, 2008).
Horizontal transfer is a process during which bacteria exchange DNA with one another directly; when a bacterium has evolved to become stronger and more resistant, it injects its DNA into a plasmid which it transmits to another bacterium and potentially be integrated into the new bacterium’s genome. When this occurs, the bacteria is more than likely to pass it on to other bacteria during horizontal transfer which will then pass it on to its descendants (University of California at Berkeley, 2008). Unlike humans, bacteria can share their DNA amongst different species. Therefore, if one species of bacteria has evolved to grow resistant to an antibiotic, it could potentially share that resistance with another species of bacteria.
Common Superbugs to Avoid
As of 2020, the CDC has identified 18 bacteria and fungi that are detrimental to human health because they have evolved into superbugs. Some of the most common include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Drug-resistant Tuberculosis (Healthline, 2020). Although staphylococcus aureus, more commonly known as a Staph infection, is treatable by medication, if the instructions provided by the doctor are not properly followed, the infection can become life threatening. What began as a very minor cut that gets infected can progress to potentially a flesh eating infection that is resistant to all bacterial medication (Jaliman, 2005). Furthermore, Tuberculosis is a much more serious respiratory condition than a Staph infection, and that severely impacts the lungs, brain and the rest of the body if left untreated (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). The range in the extent of infections superbug impact demonstrates the vastness of their dangers.
Prevention and Protection
Even though drug resistance is a natural phenomenon (because evolution cannot be halted), it can be slowed down. To prevent superbugs from forming, always complete a course of antibiotics prescribed to you in accordance to the dosage instructed by your doctor. Too much or too little at a time can be fatal. Additionally, if you have a bacterial infection, try your best to keep your living conditions clean and prevent mishandling food. Never share your prescriptions with others who you suspect have the same infection and don’t reuse old antibiotic prescriptions if you think the bacterial infection has returned (Tosh, 2018).
To protect yourself from superbugs and all other infections, wash your hands with soap and water periodically to rid yourself of germs. When cooking, thoroughly cook all your food and ensure you separate any cooked and raw foods. Lastly, avoid close contact with anyone who is ill and keep up-to-date with all your vaccinations. These precautions can be tedious sometimes but following through with them will keep you and those around you safe. Especially, given the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that we go out of our way to follow these protocols.
Conclusion
Next time you visit the doctor for a bacterial infection, and they prescribe you antibiotics, it is vital that you take the initiative to take all doses and complete the course. The longer the list of superbugs gets, the more impossible it is to treat certain diseases. Although it may not be of major concern to you right now, the thought of having ineffective medication for what is a simple infection is devastating. Therefore, you should do your part and follow through with a course of antibiotics if they are prescribed to you. The process of using antibiotics can be pedantic, but it is an important one; not only for your safety, but for the safety of others who contract the infection.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Fact Sheets. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/general/tb.htm
Columbia University. (2021, September 30). How Evolution Explains Antibiotic-Resistant Superbugs. Columbia Public Health. https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/public-health-now/news/how-evolution-explains-antibiotic-resistant-superbugs
Healthline. (2020, April 28). Superbugs: Types, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/superbug#symptoms
Jaliman, Dr. D. (2005, February 28). Staph Infection and Cellulitis. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/staph-infection-cellulitis
Northern Ireland Civil Service. (n.d.). Questions over advice to finish courses of antibiotics. NICS Well. Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://www.nicswell.co.uk/health-news/questions-over-advice-to-finish-courses-of-antibiotics#:~:text=Patients%20have%20always%20been%20advised
Tosh, P. K. (2018). Protect yourself from superbugs. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/expert-answers/superbugs/faq-20129283
University of California at Berkeley. (2008, April 1). Superbug, super-fast evolution - Understanding Evolution. Understanding Evolution. https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evo-news/superbug-super-fast-evolution/
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