Antibiotic Resistance Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Definition

Antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacteria to survive the effects of antibiotic attacks.

Antibiotics are a type of drug that works against bacteria that cause infections and diseases in humans or animals.

In conditions of antibiotic resistance, diseases that were once easy to treat become diseases that are now more dangerous because bacteria are resistant.

This can happen because bacteria change themselves so that the effectiveness of drugs, chemicals, or other substances designed to kill bacteria is reduced.

As a result, the bacteria can survive, become resistant to treatment and multiply, causing more problems.

Currently, several types of diseases are known to be difficult or even incurable due to increasingly common antibiotic resistance.

Some examples of diseases that have been greatly affected by antibiotic resistance include pneumonia, tuberculosis,  sepsis, and gonorrhea.

Below is a complete explanation of what antibiotic resistance is.

Antibiotic Resistance

Medical specialist	Clinical microbiology specialist
Symptoms	The duration of treatment is long, the infection does not improve
risk factor	Not taking antibiotics according to the rules, having low body resistance due to certain diseases, hospitals or clinics that do not control the spread of infection, lack of personal and environmental hygiene
diagnosis	Medical interviews, physical examinations, supporting examinations such as antibiotic resistance testing
Treatment	Antibiotic drug according to resistance test
Complications	Infections are getting worse, treatment is getting longer, costs are getting higher, and death
When to see a doctor?	If complaints of pain appear and do not improve with self-medication, you should immediately consult a doctor for further management

Symptoms

Infection from bacteria can attack all body systems. In general, the symptoms of antibiotic resistance experienced are no reduction in the symptoms experienced and a longer healing process.

However, looking at the characteristics of antibiotic resistance alone is not enough. Further tests are needed to make sure you have antibiotic resistance.

Reason

Antibiotic resistance can occur through natural processes. Usually through genetic changes or mutations.

Some types of bacteria neutralize antibiotics and make them harmless. While other bacteria learn to remove antibiotics from the body before they have a detrimental effect.

Then, the bacteria can also change their external structure so that antibiotics cannot attach to and kill the bacteria.

It is undeniable that the use of antibiotics, especially excessive and misdirected, has contributed to accelerating the process of antibiotic resistance.

Moreover, antibiotics can be obtained freely. Even ordinary people easily use it inappropriately and without medical indications.

An example is the use of antibiotics for diseases that are mostly caused by viruses, such as colds and sore throats.

Every time someone takes antibiotics, the drug will kill bacteria that are sensitive to antibiotics. However, bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics will not die and are free to reproduce.

As a result, over time the habit of using antibiotics will play a role in increasing the number of resistant bacteria.

Risk Factors

Several risk factors that could cause increased antibiotic resistance include:

• People who do not take antibiotics as directed
• People who have low immune systems such as HIV/ AIDS, cancer patients, organ transplant recipients
• Currently undergoing treatment using immunosuppressants, such as in lupus or other autoimmune diseases
• Excessive use of antibiotics
• Hospitals or health facilities that cannot control the spread of infection
• Lack of personal and environmental hygiene
• Lack of development of new types of antibiotics

Diagnosis

To make a diagnosis of antibiotic resistance, doctors will still collect information from patients through medical interviews and physical examinations.

In addition, the doctor will also do an antibiotic resistance test. This examination is important because it helps test the sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics.

Usually, the doctor will take a sample of infected blood or tissue, then test it in the laboratory.

Treatment

Antibiotic resistance cannot be cured. Therefore, there are no specific drugs that can be given to treat antibiotic resistance.

If you have a disease where the bacteria are resistant to certain antibiotics, the doctor will give other antibiotics to kill the bacteria that cause the disease or give antibiotics according to the results of the tests carried out.

Prevention

There are several steps that can be taken as a way to prevent antibiotic resistance, including:

• Always take antibiotics according to the doctor’s recommendations
• Avoid using other people’s antibiotics or sharing antibiotics with other people even if they have the same symptoms without consulting a doctor
• Do not force doctors or health workers to give antibiotics when sick, unless absolutely necessary
• While undergoing treatment, don’t forget to take your medicine on time. You can set an alarm to help remember
• Do not save leftover antibiotics (eg for the next illness)
• Preventing the body from being infected with bacteria, for example by washing hands regularly and keeping a distance from people who are sick

Complications

Doctors have limitations in giving drugs if the patient has antibiotic resistance. Of course this will increase some complications such as:

• Increased risk of worsening infection
• Longer treatment
• Death

When to See a Doctor?

If the complaint does not improve with self-medication, you should immediately consult a doctor.