The frequent use and without medical recommendation of antibiotics can favor the occurrence of mutations and mechanisms of adaptation and resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, which makes the treatment more difficult and time-consuming, since the medication has no effect on the bacteria, worsening the patient's clinical condition.
When an antibiotic is effective, the bacteria is able to have its rate of multiplication decreased or be eliminated from the body. However, when a bacterium acquires resistance to a certain antibiotic, it becomes capable of proliferating regardless of the presence of the antibiotic and being able to cause more serious infections that are difficult to treat.
In most cases, the bacterium is resistant to only one antimicrobial, as in the case of Enterococcus sp. , for example, which is resistant to Vancomycin. However, it is possible to verify a bacterium resistant to several antibiotics, being called superbug, as is the case of the carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella , also called KPC.
How antibiotic resistance happens
In the case of a bacterial infection where symptoms are present, the doctor usually recommends using antibiotics to treat the infection and eliminate the bacteria. However, when the treatment is not done as recommended by the doctor, it is possible that the bacteria will develop resistance mechanisms against the antibiotic that was used, being able to stay in the body longer and result in more serious infections, such as sepsis, for example, which happens when the bacteria reaches the bloodstream.
This resistant bacteria is able to multiply more easily and thus pass its resistance genes on to other generations. In addition, it is possible that new mutations occur in the genetic material of these bacteria, giving rise to superbugs, which are those that are resistant to more than one type of antibiotic.
The more resistant the bacteria is, the more difficult it is to treat, since there are fewer antibiotics available to treat that infection.
Main resistant bacteria
Resistant bacteria are more easily found in a hospital environment due to the procedures that patients are subjected to, the frequent use of antibiotics, people's immune systems and the longer time of exposure to infectious and antimicrobial agents due to the prolonged stay in the hospital.
Among the main resistant bacteria are Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC), Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is resistant to Methicillin, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , which are resistant to carbapenem antibiotics. Know the main multi-resistant bacteria.
How to avoid antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance can be easily avoided through simple actions, such as:
- Use of antibiotics only under medical recommendation; Time and dose of the antibiotic should be indicated by the doctor and used according to his guidance, even with the disappearance of symptoms; Do not interrupt the treatment with antibiotics even if there are no more symptoms of infection.
In addition, it is important to maintain good hand hygiene, wash food well before preparing it, have the vaccines up to date and just contact people hospitalized using protective elements, such as masks and gowns, for example. Find out why it is dangerous to take medicine without medical advice.
In order to avoid bacterial resistance, it is also important that hospitals survey the most prevalent bacteria in the hospital and critical inpatient units and determine the sensitivity and resistance profile of these microorganisms.
Once it is known which are the most frequent bacteria and their characteristics, it is possible to adopt strategies to prevent infections during the patient's hospitalization. Continuing education and training of health professionals present at the hospital is essential to avoid nosocomial infections and the development of resistant microorganisms. See how to prevent nosocomial infections.
