Antibiotic Abuse - Nigerians Dying From Super Bug Infections

[Matino]

I recently watched an interview on CNN where the issue on discussion was of microbial resistance to antibiotics. It was projected that by 2050, antibiotic resistance will account for 10 million global deaths in a year. Compare this figure with the number of cancer deaths by 2050, which is 8.2 million deaths, then you will begin to see the true picture. Of these 10 million deaths from antibiotics, 4.1 million will be from Africa, with only Asia having a worse figure of 4.7 million deaths.

So what is antibiotic resistance?

Antibiotic resistance is a situation where drugs that normally treat infections are no longer able to because the causative organisms have literally devised a means of remaining active despite therapy with such antibiotic. This means that ordinary infections that are easily treated with antibiotics will become difficult to treat.

What causes antibiotic resistance?

One of the factors that have been blamed for antibiotic resistance is Abuse. In Nigeria for example, people use antibiotics a lot especially when it is not necessary. It is common practice for example for people to use Flagyl, Tetracycline, or Doxycycline when they have diarrhoea. These are over-the-counter drugs that you can easily run to the drug store next to you to purchase. Unfortunately, using these antibiotics for treating diarrhoea is simply an abuse. This may challenge your beliefs but it remains the truth.

Another common misuse of antibiotics in Nigeria is in cases of sore throat. Many people often use Septrin in treating sore throat and this is not necessary as it is not the ideal treatment choice.

Why? You may ask.

Antibiotics are not recommended for the treatment of acute diarrhoea and sore throat because the main organisms causing most cases of diarrhoea are viruses and not bacteria; and antibiotics only treat bacterial infections. So you may ask what the heck, since the drug will not kill me, why not use it. The problem is actually about my opening statement – abuse of antibiotics is the major factor responsible for antibiotic resistance. When you use antibiotics too often especially when it isn’t necessary, microbes tend to develop resistance to the antibiotics so that when it becomes necessary to use them, they will no longer be effective.

For cases of simple diarrhoea, all you need is to stay hydrated and eat well. You will realise that the symptoms will run its course and relieve you. Same is applicable for sore throat.

The truth is that the blame is not only on us. According to the report used in the CNN interview, the abuse of antibiotics can be partly blamed on doctors too. I know you may have had the experience of being prescribed antibiotics by a doctor for acute diarrhoea but that a doctor prescribed it does not make it right. Cases of diarrhoea will only need other interventions – and not necessarily antibiotic interventions – when there is bleeding, severe vomiting, severe weakness and dehydration, significantly elevated body temperature, on-going pregnancy and so on.

This information is important so that we can all do our part in reducing to the barest minimum the problem of antibiotic resistance. It is already a problem and it is responsible for the deaths of many already which why it is expedient that Nigerians take heed and avoid the abuse of these medications.

Photo credit: www.pointsadhsblog.wordpress.com

 

[Temitope]

Thanks Dr Matthew. But the problem here is many people get relieved when they use antibiotics for those infection you mentioned and because they get relieved they consider them useful at any other time. Are you suggesting that people should bear with the symptoms, pains and stress of those infection without taking any proactive step and hope that it would go by itself?

 

[curator]

Well if you have a viral infection, the antibiotics will not help and the infection might clear in a 10 days. Some people feel better just taking something and some doctors, who should know better, feel better giving them something. Better still people go directly to the pharmacist, who will give them the antibiotics with no questions asked.

This is a very serious global problem but in Nigeria, the chances of overcoming any issues are slim to none.

 

[Temitope]

Some people feel better just taking something and some doctors, who should know better, feel better giving them something.

This reminds me of when I was in school, there is this doctor that doesn't wait to listen student's complaints before he begins to prescribe a drug for you. Once you check in to his room, his pen begins to dangle on the prescription sheet. He must have written artesunate before listening to your complaints at all.

Doctors should take their time to listen to patients and understand their condition before prescribing any drug.

 

[curator]

Maybe he was treating STDs all the time and knew what was going on in your school.

 

[Vunderkind]

Does this same logic apply to the problem of not finishing your drug dosage? Like, perhaps you're supposed to complete a 3-day drug use regime, but because you start to feel better on the second day, you discontinue the usage. Does this result in the so-called 'superbugs'?

 

[curator]

Does this same logic apply to the problem of not finishing your drug dosage? Like, perhaps you're supposed to complete a 3-day drug use regime, but because you start to feel better on the second day, you discontinue the usage. Does this result in the so-called 'superbugs'?

From my limited understanding it does. But please always seek medical advise on these matters.

 

[Vunderkind]

Most over-the-counter 'chemists' just prescribe placebos when people are sick. I strongly suspect people recover purely do to their internal defense mechanisms. When I had acute stomach ache during NYSC I visited several chemists and got widely divergent prescriptions.

 

[curator]

Most over-the-counter 'chemists' just prescribe placebos when people are sick. I strongly suspect people recover purely do to their internal defense mechanisms. When I had acute stomach ache during NYSC I visited several chemists and got widely divergent prescriptions.

Maybe you should have visited a doctor. If the countries 'best and brightest' like you will not go to the doctor, then we have a problem.

 

[Vunderkind]

Doctors are expensive (or were, considering my means at the time.) General hospitals will put you on a queue that is sure to kill you before you're attended to.

 

[Matino]

Thanks Dr Matthew. But the problem here is many people get relieved when they use antibiotics for those infection you mentioned and because they get relieved they consider them useful at any other time. Are you suggesting that people should bear with the symptoms, pains and stress of those infection without taking any proactive step and hope that it would go by itself?

The issue is that whether or not you use antibiotics in cases of diarrhoea for example, it will run its course and clear off. As I have said most diarrhoea cases are caused by viruses so there is no way antibiotics could have cured them. I am also not saying you should do nothing in cases of diarrhoea. All you have to do is to stay hydrated and eat well. You can take drugs like loperamide that can reduce the freq of stooling. If you however notice other serious symptoms apart from the diarrhoea, then you should see a doctor

 

[Matino]

Does this same logic apply to the problem of not finishing your drug dosage? Like, perhaps you're supposed to complete a 3-day drug use regime, but because you start to feel better on the second day, you discontinue the usage. Does this result in the so-called 'superbugs'?

Yes. It actually does. This is especially true in cases of malaria when you underdose.

 

[Temitope]

Doctors are expensive (or were, considering my means at the time.) General hospitals will put you on a queue that is sure to kill you before you're attended to.

Another thing is; most of us didn't grow up with the go see the doctor culture. Before we knew the doctor, we first knew the chemist. It is now we're trying to imbibe the go see the doctor culture.

 

[Vunderkind]

Another thing is; most of us didn't grow up with the go see the doctor culture. Before we knew the doctor, we first knew the chemist. It is now we're trying to imbibe the go see the doctor culture.

LOL indeed!