Healthcare Report: Antibiotic Resistance, Causes, and Solutions

This report focuses on the critical issue of antibiotic resistance in healthcare. It begins by highlighting Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as a primary example of antibiotic resistance and discusses how the overuse of antibiotics contributes to the problem. The report references key research, including the work of Fankhauser et al. (2015) and Laxminarayan et al. (2013), to explain the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and the impact of antibiotic usage, particularly in eastern countries where over-the-counter antibiotic sales are more prevalent. The report emphasizes that antibiotic resistance leads to prolonged illness, treatment complications, and reduced chances of recovery, necessitating a multi-faceted approach to patient care. The report concludes by underscoring the need for comprehensive strategies to combat antibiotic resistance and improve healthcare outcomes.

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Healthcare
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Antibiotic resistance is a rising health issue at present. The most common example of
antibiotic resistance is Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA is a
bacterium causing infections in different parts of the human body that is known to be
resistant to antibiotics commonly used for treating infection with Staphylococcus, including
Methicillin. Methicillin is a semisynthetic penicillin-related antibiotic that was once effective
against staphylococci resistant to penicillin. With time and increased use of these antibiotics,
strains of Staphylococcus species have evolved that are resistant to such antibiotics. Other
examples include penicillin-resistant Enterococcus, and multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium
tuberculosis (MDR-TB) (Fankhauser et al. 2015).
Laxminarayan et al. (2013) point out that the eastern countries have more tendency to
use antibiotics in comparison to western countries of the world. Over-the-counter antibiotics
are sold widely in these countries. The restrictions imposed on the sale of antibiotics are less
imposed, leading to increased cases of antibiotic resistance.
The more a person uses an antibiotic, the more he becomes resistant to that drug. The
underlying mechanism is that the sensitive bacteria are killed while germs that are resistant
multiply and grow within the body. In an individual who has suffered infection due to
organisms resistant to the antibiotic, the prognosis is marked by a longer duration of signs
and symptoms of the occurring disease. The possible outcomes of the infection are adverse,
as management is difficult. Consequent administration of antibiotic drugs in pursuit of
understanding the best drug against the infection would lead to several health complications.
The chances of recovery are less, as compared to other patients. Treatment requires
multicomponent approach with inputs from different spheres of the medical field.

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References
Fankhauser, C., Schrenzel, J., Francois, P., Pittet, D. and Harbarth, S., 2015. Secular trends of
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at Geneva University Hospitals (HUG)
over a 14-year period. Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, 4(1), p.O9.
Laxminarayan, R., Duse, A., Wattal, C., Zaidi, A.K., Wertheim, H.F., Sumpradit, N.,
Vlieghe, E., Hara, G.L., Gould, I.M., Goossens, H. and Greko, C., 2013. Antibiotic resistance
—the need for global solutions. The Lancet infectious diseases, 13(12), pp.1057-1098.