Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic Resistance
Nicholas J. Ciotti
Nova Southeastern University
Biology 1510
Professor A. Hirons
March 28, 2011
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is when microorganisms, such as bacteria, are able to survive an exposure to antibiotics and these bacteria are now resistant to the effects of these antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance in bacteria has been an issue since antibiotics were discovered. The fact that bacteria can become resistant to our medical treatments such as antibiotics is a natural evolutionary process, but there are certain human contributions that definitely speed up the process. For example, one of the main contributions that will be discussed is the problem of over prescription of the antibiotic drugs. The bacteria are constantly being exposed to the antibiotics and being forced to evolve at a high rate into resistant forms of the bacteria. If antibiotic resistance is a known problem then why are doctors still over prescribing antibiotics? There are definite obvious solutions to the problem such as cutting down on the unnecessary over prescription of these antibiotics, but there are also other precautions that need to be taken.
Introduction
For more than 50 years, physicians worldwide have relied on antibiotics for rapid and effective management of many of the most common infections. Antibiotics have changed the way both doctors and the public perceive bacterial infections and their treatment. Doctors have been confronted with antibiotic resistance for as long as they have been using antibiotics (Stearns and Koella, 2008). Modern antibiotics basically began with penicillin. A British scientist discovered penicillin by the name of Alexander Fleming in 1928. It was not until 1942 that the British and Americans began mass-producing the drug. Its use became widespread during World War II, it became quite popular through its heavy public marketing. During this time penicillin was widely thought of as a miracle drug. People were
Nicholas J. Ciotti
Nova Southeastern University
Biology 1510
Professor A. Hirons
March 28, 2011
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is when microorganisms, such as bacteria, are able to survive an exposure to antibiotics and these bacteria are now resistant to the effects of these antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance in bacteria has been an issue since antibiotics were discovered. The fact that bacteria can become resistant to our medical treatments such as antibiotics is a natural evolutionary process, but there are certain human contributions that definitely speed up the process. For example, one of the main contributions that will be discussed is the problem of over prescription of the antibiotic drugs. The bacteria are constantly being exposed to the antibiotics and being forced to evolve at a high rate into resistant forms of the bacteria. If antibiotic resistance is a known problem then why are doctors still over prescribing antibiotics? There are definite obvious solutions to the problem such as cutting down on the unnecessary over prescription of these antibiotics, but there are also other precautions that need to be taken.
Introduction
For more than 50 years, physicians worldwide have relied on antibiotics for rapid and effective management of many of the most common infections. Antibiotics have changed the way both doctors and the public perceive bacterial infections and their treatment. Doctors have been confronted with antibiotic resistance for as long as they have been using antibiotics (Stearns and Koella, 2008). Modern antibiotics basically began with penicillin. A British scientist discovered penicillin by the name of Alexander Fleming in 1928. It was not until 1942 that the British and Americans began mass-producing the drug. Its use became widespread during World War II, it became quite popular through its heavy public marketing. During this time penicillin was widely thought of as a miracle drug. People were
Cited: Galley, Helen F. Antibiotic Resistance and Infection Control. London: London BMJ Books, 2001. Stearns, S. C., and Jacob C. Koella. Evolution in Health and Disease. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008. Stivers, Tanya. Prescribing Under Pressure: Parent-physician Conversations and Antibiotics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007. Walters, Mark J. Six Modern Plagues and How We Are Causing Them. Washington, D.C.: Washington Island Press, 2003.