Bacterial resistance is a condition whereby certain microorganisms are resistant to effects of drugs as they portray an inherent ability to withstand exposure to antibiotics. This state of affairs can thrive in conditions whereby a gene is shared and also develops resistance through a process of natural selection. These same genes can be relocated among bacteria in a horizontal manner through conjugation, transduction or transformation. It is reported that many of the resistant genes exist in on plasmids making it easy for the facilitation of propagation. The main cause for resistance is through application of medicine which can also include veterinary drugs. It has been discovered that resistance to the antibiotics increases with more exposure periods to the drugs (Bhutta, 2008)
Causes of Bacterial Resistance
Bacteria and other resistance genes are known to be transmitted at a high rate and travel much farther. This makes the spread of epidemics much faster hence endangering the lives of many. As the population of the world increases on a daily basis, it is becoming more and more important for researchers and other stake holders such as government bodies and members of the medical community to come up with solutions to reduce the resistance of antibiotics. Opportunities involved in the fast spread of bacteria from person to person are compounded by the increasing number of individuals in public places such as stadiums and parks. Globalization ha also contributed to higher resistance of antibiotics as distribution of food from one continent to another greatly increases the chance of the citizens of either country’s to contract bacterial infection (Bloomberg, 2007).
Reduction of Bacterial Resistance by Medical Community
The medical fraternity should be at the forefront in educating patients and the general public on methods and techniques of reducing bacterial resistance. It is widely accepted that the connection between antibiotic use and resistance is compound, whereby there have been different findings in regard to the research studies conducted in the past. Several findings have concluded that a decrease in antibiotic resistance can only take place when there is a subsequent reduction in the utilization of antibiotics. Researchers have discovered that the period required for the frequency of antibiotic resistance to drop is generally higher than the period obligated in order for resistance to build up under selective pressure (Okeke, 2009). Success by medical practitioners in mitigating bacterial resistance have not been successful due to the lack of information on mortality rates as well as morbidity rates that are attributed to resistance. The medical community should furnish the public and themselves with data relating to the number of deaths blamed on resistance to bacteria. The medical community should also adhere to rules and regulations that forbid the sale of antibiotics over the counter.
Reduction of Bacterial Resistance by Governments
Governments all over the world with assistance from policy makers are coming up with legislations that forbid pharmacists from selling antibiotics to patients without any prescription notes from doctors. For example in Sweden, the national program, Strama has succeeded in reducing the level of antibacterial resistance through reduction in antibiotic sales (Hawkey 2009). The program is aimed at educating the public about the dangers of antibiotics especially when full dosage is not finished. The government can also reduce the resistance of bacteria through coordinating with the medical practitioners and the private sector on formulation of guidelines that will instill behavioral change among consumers of drugs.
References
Bhutta, Z. (2008). Hospital-acquired neonatal infections in developing countries. New York: CRC publishers.
Bloomberg, B. (2007). Antimicrobial resistance predicts death in Tanzanian children with bloodstream infections. Nairobi: Heinemann Publishers.
Hawkey, M. (2009). Action against antibiotic resistance: no time to lose. Sydney: Ocean view Publishers.
Okeke, I. (2009). Growing problem of multidrug-resistant enteric pathogens in the World. London: Oxford Publishers.