Antibiotics and resistance: facts and myths

On antibiotics a lot of misunderstandings and misconceptions circulating. On the occasion of the world antibiotics week of 18. – 24. November 2019 wants to clean up the German society for infectiology (DGI) in order. The action is intended to promote the sensible use of antibiotics, their Motto is: "The future of antibiotics depends on all of us!"

In order to prevent the bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, so resistance to develop, patients as well as Doctors. Some people have wrong ideas of what relates to the application or the Use of antibiotics. The DGI explains it:

Antibiotics are not for flu and Erkäcold take

Antibiotics do not help against the flu and the common cold. Both diseases are caused by viruses against which antibiotics can do nothing. Nevertheless, 72 percent of patients can expect a survey on behalf of the health insurance company DAK, according to that you will get dedicated in such cases, an antibiotic. Unnecessary use promotes drug Resistance and should be avoided at all costs. Sometimes, bacteria to join in the course of the infection to the virus. Just then, an antibiotic is sometimes needed – in most cases, the symptoms can be improved by itself.

As long as nötig, but as short as möpossible

Some of you probably know the rule that you take an antibiotic about the Disappearance of the symptoms, until it is completely used up. Today, we know that a shorter therapy is better because less resistance is caused. Patients speak with the doctor, a personalized treatment duration. The symptoms are healing at an early stage, and contacted the Patient at the doctor and speaks with him how to proceed.

Non-resistant pathogens are a große risk

In Germany, about 30,000 people are diagnosed annually in a dangerous Sepsis, blood poisoning, which is caused by the notorious pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. But only in ten percent of cases are of the multidrug-resistant variant MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). It has decreased in the last years. Against MRSA, more effective antibiotics, even as against many other bacteria that are not considered to be multi-resistant.

Resistant bacteria, not the people

In a survey from the year 2018, among over 2,000 adults aged 35 years and more than half of the participants assumed that people can be resistant to antibiotics. It is true, however: Only bacteria develop antibiotic resistance, a single Person, for example, has taken frequent antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance is thus not an individual Problem: the resistant which had become bacteria, you are at risk for all, even for people who have never taken an antibiotic.

ZOU

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