Rise in antibiotic resistant infections in England could put millions at risk and push medicine ‘back to dark ages’
THE EXPRESS: Health WARNING. Britain facing antibiotics crisis with 3 MILLION operations at risk
HUFF POST: Antibiotic Resistant Infections Have Risen By A Third
Right well that’s all sounding pretty bleak to me so lets start at the beginning…
WHAT ARE ANTIBIOTICS?
Antibiotics are a class of medicines which target bacteria alone, with no impact on viral or fungal infections.
The rise of antibiotics famously began in 1929 when Alexander Flemming discovering penicillin, and since many antibiotic classes have been manufactured and utilised in modern medicine.
SO WHAT’S THE ISSUE?
Despite having a number of antibiotics in the drug cabinet, medics are facing an increasing struggle to treat bacterial infections. In short the bacteria are evolving, changing and becoming resistant to what we treat them with. And the irony of all this? Us as a community are in part to blame.
THERE’S SOME TRUTH IN THE HEADLINES THEN?
ABSOLUTELY. If bacteria continue to develop resistance at the rate they currently are, many people may be left with antibiotic resistant bacterial infections which we could struggle to treat.
WHAT SOLUTIONS ARE THERE?
- Try not to request Antibiotics from your GP, allow them to make a clinical assessment and discuss conservative treatment options if appropriate (in cases of viral infections this may be your best option).
- Spread the word, not all infections need antibiotics, because some are caused by viruses or fungi, and if so antibiotics won’t work.
- Further education for UK based health care professionals, the public and education globally will be needed. Public Health England’s initiative with backing from the UK government will aim to start a global conversation!
It’s up to UK healthcare professionals to continue to raise awareness of antibiotic resistance and us all to try and minimise it’s impact on the health landscape of the future!
Over and Out,
The Gym Medic aka Dr Sarah Bailey
Remember you can catch me on instagram, twitter and over on the contact page of my website!
Hit follow for email updates on new blog posts and feel free to inbox me any headlines that you want explaining or debunking!
Links to articles included below:
BBC NEWS: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45878325
HUFF POST: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/antibiotic-resistant-infections-have-risen-by-a-third-why-that-is-a-problem_uk_5bcdb01ae4b0a8f17eee7774?guccounter=1&guce_referrer_us=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvLnVrLw&guce_referrer_cs=S2ZBIM5qr8TJlAlMBrNBzg