Burress 2 Rachel Burress Ms.

Ingram English 1103 16 October 2012 The Three Sides of Antibiotic Resistance Since their modern beginnings in 1921, Antibiotics have saved millions of lives and have changed our course of modern medicine for all time (Dr. Hani). But as time goes along, doctors have become concerned with the side effects and the growing resistance by bacteria to these drugs. Over use has caused bacteria to develop a resistance to some antibiotics which is concerning doctors due to the fact bacteria are becoming more varied and stronger while antibiotics remain the same. Many doctors take different stands on how much and when antibiotics should be used in situations, but all doctors agree over use is extremely unhealthy. In the ninth grade I contracted Mononucleosis, better know as mono, and ever since then I have been a frequent visitor to the doctors office. This is when I discovered that first level antibiotics did not work on the infections I contracted. So somewhere in my childhood I was prescribed too many antibiotics, causing the bacteria to be resistant to the drugs. Now, most doctors instead of giving antibiotics for anything, limit it to when one has a more serious infection. These doctors are the more common group, who take a middle of the road approach. They believe antibiotics are used when one has been sick for over two weeks and are not getting better. That way they know its for certain an illness that requires antibiotics. No matter how bad you feel they will not give you antibiotics any sooner; keeping one from taking antibiotics needlessly. A study conducted by the Boston University School Of Medicine further shows the problem of over medicating on antibiotics. Eighteen percent of parents admitted to giving their child

Burress 2 an antibiotic before consulting a physician. Also, twenty-nine percent of parents believe they were receiving unnecessary antibiotics (Palmer, Bauchner). This problem isnt just in community health centers but in private practices too. In the conclusion, the surveyed physicians all said they were concerned about the overuse of antibiotics (Palmer, Bauchner). This goes to show we have a real problem here and a change needs to be made. On the other hand, many doctors also believe that antibiotics should not be used until one is at deaths door, so to speak. WebMD gives an accurate definition of our problem: If you take antibiotics when you do not need them, they may not work when you do need them. Each time you take antibiotics, you are more likely to have some bacteria that the medicine does not kill. Over time these bacteria change (mutate) and become harder to kill. The antibiotics that used to kill them no longer work (Using Antibiotics Wisely). Scary to think about one day we might not have a way to fight illnesses because antibiotics have failed. In his book Presciption Alteratives, Mindell says Antibiotics should only be used as a final resort in fighting a potentially life-threatening infection (Mindell, Hopkins. 329). Obviously, Mindell is not a fan of antibiotics in general and with the growing issue of antibiotic resistant bacteria it doesnt sound too unreasonable. Mindell believes one should leave it up to their body to fight illnesses instead of prescribing antibiotics (Mindell, Hopkins. 328). A new science for antibiotics is emerging though, scientists believe medicine found in naturally occurring organisms have potential to fight antibiotic resistant bacteria. Alternative methods have also been explored from using natural sources like antimicrobials which have been shown to hold great potential in controlling antibiotic-resistant pathogens (Lotfipour.) Antimicrobials have been found in two types of mud dauber. A scientific experiment performed by the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences found the potential of wasps to have antimicrobials

Burress 2 (Cameron). Antimicrobials are on the cutting edge of science and, thankfully, the first step in a new direction for antibiotics. Several plant extracts, working together, have exhibited activity against microorganisms. A scientific study by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras states: the observed synergy and mechanism of action between natural products including flavonoids and essential oils and synthetic drugs in effectively combating bacterial, fungal and mycobacterial infections (Shanmugam). Scientists are working to find new ways to fight resistant bacteria, which is highly encouraging for me since my opinions for antibiotics are dwindling. Antimicrobials are on the cutting edge of science and thankfully the first step in a new direction for antibiotics. After all this research, I have found things which scare me but the fact science is always moving forward working to find new cures is diffidently reassuring.

Work Citied Cameron R. Currie. Chemical Analyses Of Wasp-Associated Streptomyces Bacteria Reveal A Plos ONE 6.2 (2011): 1-8. Academic Prolific Potential For Natural Products Discovery. Search Complete. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. (Cameron)

Burress 2 Hani, Dr. History of Antibiotics. Experiment-Resources. 2010. Web. 12 October 2012. (Dr. Hani) Lotfipour, F. Natural Antimicrobial Peptides From Bacteria: Characteristics And Potential Applied Microbiology Applications To Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance. Journal Of 113.4 (2012): 723-736. MEDLINE. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. (Lotfipour)

Mindell, Earl, and Virginia Hopkins. Prescription Alternatives: Hundreds of Safe, Natural, Prescription-Free Remedies to Restore and Maintain Your

Health. Los Angeles, Calif: Keats Pub, 1999. Internet resource. (Mindell, Hopkins) Palmer DA, Bauchner, H. Parents' and physicians' views on antibiotics. PubMed. Boston University School of Medicine. Web. 6 June. 1997. (Palmer, Bauchner)

Shanmugam, Hemaiswarya, Kruthiventi Anil Kumar, and Doble Mukesh. Review: Synergism Between Natural Products And Antibiotics Against Infectious Diseases. Phytomedicine (Shanmugam) Using Antibiotics Wisely. WebMD. Healthwise Incorporated, 11 March. 2011. Web. (Using Antibiotics Wisely) 15.(n.d.): 639-652. ScienceDirect. Web. 14 Oct. 2012.