How to Help Stop Resistant Bacterial Strains

In recent years new highly resistant strains of bacteria have emerged. While there are many ideas about why this has occurred, most scientists agree that patients have contributed to the formation of the super bug strains by misusing antibiotics, and that doctors have contributed by over-prescribing antibiotics. We can stop this misuse;. In this article I will explain how.

All bacteria are not equal. There are strong bacteria and weak bacteria present in a single infection. When a person begins a course of antibiotics, the weaker ones are killed off first. The stronger, more resistant germs are left to continue fighting. Normally, after a few days of taking antibiotics, so many bacteria have been killed off that people begin to feel better. Unfortunately, many people choose to stop the course of antibiotics at this point. Stopping a course of antibiotics before the course is complete is the one of the worst things a person can do. What has happened after a short time, and why people feel better, is that a large number of bacteria have been killed off. However, bacteria still remain and these bacteria are the stronger, more resistant bacteria. The patient who stops taking antibiotics at this point is allowing the strongest to survive.

Besides stopping antibiotics before one is finished with the course, another contributing force to the creation of Super Bugs is people who take antibiotics for viral infections.

The common cold, for instance, is caused by a virus--there are many different kinds of viruses that can cause a cold. Antibiotics have absolutely no impact on a virus, yet patients suffering from a cold often request antibiotics.

Here is a simplified breakdown of the differences between a virus and bacteria.

A Virus: is a very small microbe that can reproduce only within a living organism. A virus entices a cell to connect with it, and then the virus inserts its DNA into the cell. Eventually, the virus takes over the cell and forces it to do its bidding, which includes
Forcing it to reproduce the virus.

Illnesses that are Viral include chicken pox, the common cold, and the flu.

Bacteria: are one-celled organisms that can reproduce on their own (in fact once bacteria take a firm hold in their environment, they double in number every few minutes. One becomes two, two becomes four, four becomes eight...you get the point).

Illnesses that are caused by bacteria include: Urinary tract infections, ear infections, strep throat, Salmonella, E. coli. Staphylococcus aureus (Staph)

If you take antibiotics when you don't need them, they won't do you any good and they might very well do you harm. Antibiotics don't care if they kill good bacteria or bad bacteria. The body contains a lot of bacteria that is necessary to keep everything in balance.