Nothing to fear: 10 myths about antibiotics that interfere with treatment
Without antibiotics, it is impossible to imagine modern medicine., while they themselves went far ahead of penicillin, invented almost a hundred years ago. Today, they are able to fight with superbugs and treat uncomplicated appendicitis, and they are trying to get them from the most unexpected sources - be it soil, an anthill, blood of the Komodo lizard or platypus milk. The endless search is connected with the fact that the longer humanity uses antibiotics, the higher the likelihood of bacteria resistance to them - that is, the risk that new drugs will be required. And if we consider that even Neanderthals were treated with antibiotics without knowing it, it becomes clear that the bacteria had enough time to adapt.
No less important than bacterial resistance, the problem is - we know too little about antibiotics. More precisely, there is already plenty of knowledge about them, but for some reason we continue to believe in myths: many people still believe that antibiotics can cure the flu, although it is useless to treat them with viral infections. This is just one of the common misconceptions. We have gathered ten more that will help us understand what antibiotics are and why they are more likely to be safe than dangerous, but we should not abuse them anyway.
Antibiotics must be taken with probiotics.
Antibiotics destroy bacteria, and probiotics restore intestinal microflora - it sounds logical. However, in reality neither dysbacteriosis nor thrush cause antibiotics in most cases. Of course, a small risk persists, but usually the only thing that threatens a person with a course of antibiotics is short-term diarrhea.
With regard to probiotics, if we ignore commercial research, doctors are skeptical: further research is needed to understand which bacterial strains are most useful and in what doses. Mayo Clinic experts are confident that the best way to clean up the intestines is to drink plenty of food and a choice that is softer than a normal diet, as well as reducing the amount of fiber.
Antibiotics should always be taken on course.
We all heard more than once that the course of antibiotics must be completed - but researchers are not sure that this is so necessary if you feel better. According to recent data, the early termination of antibiotic therapy does not contribute to the development of resistance to them, but longer than necessary, taking just increases this risk. In addition, for the convenience of the patient, new products are trying to create in such a way that they do not need to be taken for a long time - and even antibiotics exist for a single dose.
However, there are a number of diseases (the most obvious example is tuberculosis), in which the rejection of the drug in the middle of the course can lead to serious consequences. Experts say that the ideal length of treatment is not yet determined - it varies in different people and depends, among other things, on what antibiotics have been used in humans in the past.
Always do a sensitivity test.
Such analyzes really help to avoid many problems and prescribe an antibiotic that will work that way and as fast as the doctor would like. But in many cases, the medical algorithm first includes the appointment of a broad-spectrum drug that affects different types of bacteria, including the most likely ones for a given disease.
Only then, if necessary, another antibiotic is assigned, aimed at solving a more narrow problem. At the same time, research results show that antibiotics of the first type can be at least as effective.
Antibiotics are an absolute evil for children and pregnant women.
Researchers believe that pregnant women should use antibiotics with caution. Which, however, does not mean that they are prohibited - it is only important to think about their expediency in each specific case. Antibiotics are not dangerous, but only if they are taken according to indications and in the correct mode.
Recently, the World Health Organization has updated the list of essential drugs, dividing antibiotics into recommended, controlled, and spare ones — this is important for prescribing the "right" antibiotics in each individual case.
Injections are better than pills
A couple of decades ago, injectable antibiotics were used more often in hospitals than in oral medicines. This was quite justified, since in the arsenal of doctors turned out to be imperfect drugs, and their choice was quite small. Bioavailability (that is, how much the drug actually entered the bloodstream) was then higher for injection forms (about 80%, and for tablets it was 40-60%).
Since then, a lot has changed in the world of antibiotics: they became better, “learned” to work faster, and the pills finally could boast a bioavailability of 90-95% - this made intramuscular injections a relic of the past, especially considering their painfulness; When administered intravenously, the drug does work faster, but it is quite rarely needed. Antibiotics in pills are easier to use and much safer. True, some drugs can not yet be enclosed in pill form - they will simply be digested by enzymes in the stomach.
Antibiotics can be used to prevent
Antibiotic prophylaxis is used to reduce the risk of infections associated with open fractures and wounds, including after surgery, and in such cases it is fully justified. But often, antibiotic prophylaxis means preventing infections in everyday situations — for example, when a person goes on vacation to an unfamiliar country and wants everything to go smoothly.
This is primarily about intestinal disorder, known as traveler's diarrhea and arising against the background of a change in the diet or climate zone. However, doctors around the world agree that such prevention is an excess. It is more correct and safer to be careful with the choice of water and food and, alternatively, to ask the doctor to recommend an antibiotic in case the problem does arise.
Resistance occurs only because of the constant use of antibiotics
The widespread use of antibiotics has accelerated the rate at which bacteria become resistant to them. But to think that only regular and uncontrolled intake of antibiotics can lead to resistance is wrong. Scientists have found that genes for antibiotic resistance can be to blame, which give bacteria the ability to destroy carbapenem class antibiotics - one of the main tools against extremely dangerous superbugs.
Not so long ago, it turned out that some bacteria in the fight for territory destroy other microbes, “picking up” the remnants of their DNA, which may contain antibiotic resistance genes - and this complicates the task. At the moment, a careful study of plasmids - molecules that carry genetic information - and the development of tools that would prevent resistance genes from attaching to these plasmids seem to be a promising solution.
Any antibiotic is better than nothing.
Do universal antibiotics exist that will help in any case? The answer is simple: no. There are broad-spectrum drugs, but even they are always prescribed, taking into account which type of bacteria is most likely in a patient. So the position "finish this antibiotic in order not to buy prescribed by a doctor" does not work.
According to experts, about 50% of antibiotics worldwide are purchased without a prescription. And there is nothing good in this: in addition to the general concern about the growing number of bacteria resistant to antibiotics, there is a risk to miss, if not with the type of medicine, then with its dosage or compatibility with other drugs that require constant administration. In addition, the use of antibiotics to combat weak bacterial infections, such as pharyngitis or bronchitis, is most often not required, since our immune system is able to cope with this on its own.
Antibiotics in meat - a threat to health
To begin with, antibiotics are not used uncontrollably as growth stimulants or for the treatment of infections in animals - and research is constantly being conducted on this topic. And while none of them allowed to reasonably talk about the dangers of such use for people - another thing is that the amount of red meat in the diet is better to limit for other reasons.
It should be borne in mind that even in organic, natural or biodynamic farming animals are treated with antibiotics, if necessary. Although, in fairness, recently WHO asked farmers not to do it without special need.
Antibiotics are incompatible with alcohol.
Most of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics are completely compatible with alcohol. In any case, one or two glasses of wine is not a reason to interrupt the course or to think that antibiotics have ceased to function and their reception should be started from the beginning. It is said that combining alcohol with antibiotics was banned during the Second World War. Then the production of the drug was not massive and it was used repeatedly - urine was collected from patients, from which new penicillin was then obtained. The beer, which the soldiers allowed themselves, increased the volume of urine, and it became more difficult to process it.
There are exceptions: metronidazole, tinidazole, trimethoprim, linezolid and some other antibiotics should not be mixed with alcohol to avoid unpleasant side effects. And do not abuse alcohol during a course of antibiotics - it additionally weakens the body, which does not contribute to the fight against infection.
Photo:Mara Zemgaliete - stock.adobe.com (1, 2, 3)
