Rupa
Many people suffering from tuberculosis and pneumonia are now taking a longer time, more than usual, to recover from the diseases due to antibiotic resistance.
What is Antibiotic Resistance?
Antibiotic resistance has been a major concern in the last few years. There are several reasons for it, including using over-the-counter medicines, not completing the stipulated course of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The last factor is heavily linked to increasing industrial waste.
The Lancet Planetary Health Journal has recently published a study that claims a close association between increasing air pollution and a higher risk of antibiotic resistance. The study has even concluded that a rise in air pollution has caused a rise in antibiotic resistance in recent years. People can be exposed to antibiotic resistance through air, soil, water or even after contact with animals.
How Does It Affect People?
Patients with tuberculosis, pneumonia, salmonellosis and gonorrhea are finding it difficult to recover from their illness due to antibiotic resistance. As previously stated, it can happen due to several reasons including misuse of antibiotics. The problem is on a rapid rise across the globe and needs urgent attention to deal with.
According to the Additional Director of Internal Medicine at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram Dr Bela Sharma, antibiotic resistance is not something to make a little of; rather it has become a menace in the last decade. It means a situation when patients are not responding to antibiotics. She adds it happens if antibiotics are not taken for the stipulated time or in the prescribed dosage. However, the latest type of antibiotic resistance is caused by the increasing level of pollution.
How Our Ignorance Makes Bacteria Stronger
Most people have a habit of buying over-the-counter drugs from a local chemist instead of visiting a registered doctor in case of loose motion, cough, fever etc. The chemist is not a doctor and suggests medicine from his experience. This drug may not be appropriate for the patient and could make bacteria stronger. Bacteria multiply very quickly and therefore, the progeny of the particular bacteria will develop resistance against the antibiotic.
Dr Bela says it’s like getting the vaccine for a disease and making ourselves immune to that particular disease.
The Connection between Pollution and Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
Industrial waste causes pollution. However, what we often ignore is waste from the healthcare industry also adds to pollution. Powerful antibiotics are used in hospitals and this waste gets mixed in sewage. Industrial waste sometimes carries antibiotics. The same holds true for waste from dairy farms because antibiotics are given to the animals for their growth or to safeguard them against infection. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics is not rare. These bacteria develop strong resistance against antibiotics and make their way through air, water and food to enter our system.
How to Prevent?
We should first stop making indiscriminate use of antibiotics. We avoid visiting doctors to save money and take over-the-counter medicines from chemists. Antibiotics are not a panacea for all types of health diseases. Fever, cough could be symptoms of underlying health conditions. Unless you consult a doctor, you will never know if antibiotics could address your problem. If you are taking prescribed antibiotics, complete the course; otherwise, it will not work for the next time. Don’t ask your neighbour for antibiotics to get a short-time relief.
Keep your house clean and check vehicles regularly. Dump garbage at a particular site instead of throwing them here and there. After all, all of us should play a small role in keeping our environment clean and reducing pollution. We should do it for our sake and for the sake of our future generations too.
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