Antibiotic Resistance: A Global Concern for Safer Health Outcome

This blog post discusses the global concern of antibiotic resistance and how it poses a threat to humans. It explains the process of natural selection from the antibiotic-resistance bacteria and how the use of antibiotics should be changed to prevent antibiotic resistance. The post also provides references for further reading.

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Blog Post Title: Antibiotic Resistance
How does this pose a threat to humans?
According to a report published by the World Health Organization (2019), it has been
mentioned that antibiotic resistance has emerged to be one of the primary global concerns
that has threatened safer health outcome of patients (Levin-Reisman et al. 2017). The issue is
threatening to human on account of the fact that it can affect humans at any age and
developmental phase. The phenomenon has been studied to take place naturally over the
years, however the misuse of antibiotics have been researched to speed up the process of
antibiotic resistance and diminish the quality of life of the humans. Also, research studies
state that a number of infections such as gonorrhoea, salmonellosis, tuberculosis and
Pneumonia have acquired antibiotic resistance and have become increasingly difficult to treat
with the help of antibiotics. Also, antibiotic resistance enhances hospitalization stay, higher
rate of mortality and increased medical costs that result in poor healthcare outcome and at the
same time deteriorate the quality of life of the affected individuals (Levin-Reisman et al.
2017).
What can we learn about the process of natural selection from the antibiotic-resistance
bacteria?
Antibiotic resistance can be defined as the property of the microorganism to typically
withstand the medical properties of an antibiotic. In other words, antibiotic resistance can be
compared equivalent to acquiring drug resistance that occurs naturally by virtue of natural
selection. However, it should be noted in this context that with the use of biotechnology and
bioengineering methods, the property of antibiotic resistance can also be integrated within an
organism. The antibiotic mode of action is the resultant of environmental stress that facilitates
the onset of a mutation which subsequently can turn on the property of drug resistance which

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means that the specific antibiotic would no longer be able to effective in neutralising the
effect of the bacterial pathogens. Staphylococcus aureus possesses the ability to respond to a
novel antibiotic and develop resistance at an accelerated rate (Munita and Arias 2016).
Excessive and prolong exposure to antibiotic helps to manipulate the genetic machinery of
the bacterial strains and develop antibiotic resistance which subsequently facilitates the
process of natural selection.
How should this change the use of antibiotics?
The evidence base suggests that the use of antibiotics should be restricted for viral
infections and related disorders such as Influenza, common cold or a sore throat. This is
because prolong use of antibiotics for the treatment of viral infections facilitate development
of antibiotic resistance. In addition to this, adapting measure to optimise antibiotic
prescription practices, adapting measures to improve professional training and public
engagement as well as analysing and improving the IPC practices so as to promote positive
health outcome (Blair et al. 2015). In addition to this, stringent compliance with infection
control guidelines within a healthcare setting can help to acquire improved positive outcome
and reduce the probability of acquiring antibiotic resistance (Fieri, Kumar & Boutin 2017).
Further, improved implementation of antimicrobial stewardship across healthcare setting can
help to prevent the misuse of the antibiotics and help to procure the best health outcome for
patients who are prone to infections and require the use of antibiotics.

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References:
Blair, J.M., Webber, M.A., Baylay, A.J., Ogbolu, D.O. and Piddock, L.J., 2015. Molecular
mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. Nature reviews microbiology, 13(1), p.42.
Frieri, M., Kumar, K. and Boutin, A., 2017. Antibiotic resistance. Journal of infection and
public health, 10(4), pp.369-378.
Levin-Reisman, I., Ronin, I., Gefen, O., Braniss, I., Shoresh, N. and Balaban, N.Q., 2017.
Antibiotic tolerance facilitates the evolution of resistance. Science, 355(6327), pp.826-830.
Munita, J.M. and Arias, C.A., 2016. Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. Microbiology
spectrum, 4(2).