Antibiotic Resistance is on the Rise: Here’s Why

Antibiotic resistance has become a complex issue that healthcare professionals increasingly encounter. Although antibiotics are life-saving drugs, overuse of antibiotics has led to the creation of superbugs. These superbugs are bacteria that have gained resistance to various antibiotics due to overprescription and improper use in industries like agriculture. As a result of the rise of superbugs, it has become very difficult to treat bacterial diseases with antibiotics. New organisms are constantly evolving to encode the genes for resistance. In particular, according to an article posted by the CDC, Candida auris and Acinetobacter have become urgent threats due to antibiotics’ ineffectiveness against them. If we lose the ability to use antibiotics, then deadly bacterial diseases will be almost impossible to treat.

Other factors besides over-prescription of antibiotics have aided in resistant bacteria. According to an article from the United States Department of Agriculture, antibiotics are given to farm animals in order to prevent illness and to fatten up the animal. A heavier animal tends to be worth more because people pay for meat by the pound. However, this contributes to antibiotic resistance. I noticed in my research that the USDA fails to admit that use of antibiotics contributes to antibiotic resistance, citing that mutation mainly occurs because of natural processes. There needs to be better transparency concerning these issues so that proper use can become the standard. Certain bacteria like Salmonella can be easily transmitted between humans and animals, so I think there is a need for accountability in order to solve this global crisis. 

Even though more companies are claiming that they are “antibiotic free”, according to Consumer Reports, there is very little regulation when companies make those claims. I think as consumers, it is our job to do our research before purchasing certain animal products and to advocate for safer regulations concerning the dairy and meat industry. In addition, do not seek out antibiotics if you have a cold or any other type of virus. Advocate for yourself if doctors prescribe antibiotics without testing for any disease. Although antibiotics are a powerful tool in medicine, it remains imperative for everyone to understand when to use them and when to avoid them. That way, we can preserve antibiotics’ usefulness for years to come.