08 issue antibiotics
These are the question that is putting our life in jeopardy
The HEALTH | APRIL, 2018
08 issue antibiotics
Antibiotics:
Are you misusing them
ARE you one of those who stores left over antibiotics, to be consumed much later when you are down with another bout of flu or cough? Or better still, when the whole family is down with a viral infection, do you tend to share the antibiotics that were prescribed to your partner who was suffering from a different illness just to save a trip to the doctor?
Although this is a common practice in many households, antibiotics should only be consumed when prescribed to you, said Ministry of Health( MOH) Hospital Kuala Lumpur Pharmacy Department senior pharmacist Rohana Hassan.
“ Antibiotic is used to prevent or to treat bacterial infection. It is not for fungal, protozoa, yeast or even virus infection. Just as other medications, the admonition to take only what is prescribed to you applies for antibiotics as well.”
“ The dosage and type of antibiotic dispensed is according to illness, gender, body type, weight and age of an individual,” she said.
Rohana also cited the example of many patients who left angry after a visit to the doctor merely because they weren’ t given antibiotics.
“ Most often, they would brand the doctor as no good. It is merely caused by the lack of awareness that frequent consumption of antibiotics increases the body’ s resistance.”
“ It is also contrary to believe in yesteryears where it was revered to as one of the major medical advances; having saved millions of lives since the discovery of penicillin in the 1940s.”
“ Unfortunately, this major breakthrough of modern medicine was followed by the phenomenon of resistance. Antibiotic resistance has raged on with relentless speed so much so that in 2011, the World Health Organization( WHO) declared it a global health threat. This phenomenon has been driven mainly by the use and misuse of antibiotics,” she said.
Effects of continuous intake
“ Antibiotics should only be consumed when prescribed to you,” Rohana Hassan.
“ Frequent consumption leads our body to be more resistant to antibiotics, thus creating a string of bacteria which is even greater in strength compared to before,” Rohana said.
“ At times, patients take the antibiotics for two days and stop when they feel better although the doctor had prescribed a full course. The same illness may recur five or six month later – this time even stronger. That is why antibiotics prescribed earlier cannot be reused as the bacteria may have evolved to be a stronger one.
“ Unlike other medications, the potential for spread of resistant organisms means that the misuse of antibiotics can adversely impact the health of patients— regardless young or old— who are not even exposed to them. In certain cases, the misuse has been reported as the cause of blindness and even death.”
“ Hence, the inadequate level of infection control can act as an amplifier of antibiotic resistance,” Rohana said.
She advised members of the public to understand the types of medications that are prescribed, ask the doctor why the medications are given; when prescribed antibiotics-why the cycle need to be completed and why certain medications need to be taken before or after meals. – NURUL AIN HUDA ABDULLAH
‘ Doctor, I need my antibiotics’
These are the question that is putting our life in jeopardy
by AMIRUL AZREEN ZULKIFLI aazreen @ revonmedia. com
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THERE is a growing concern regarding antimicrobial resistance and according to the Malaysia Medical
Association( MMA) President Dr Ravindran Naidu( pic), the threat is real.“ It is for a fact, antimicrobial resistance is at an alarming rate.“ Looking at how things are going now, we are going to reach a stage where there will be no antibiotics that will be effective against bacterial infection due to the resistance.”
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria changes in such a way that the medication used to treat them; in this case antibiotics becomes ineffective.
Understanding the threat, the Ministry of Health( MOH) together with MMA is taking a huge step in educating doctors— both public and private sector— regarding the danger of antimicrobial resistance. Ravindran also highlighted that it is important in monitoring
Community’ s perception
FARIDAH Jamidi Hassan said that during her parent’ s time, doctors would frequently prescribe an antibiotic course for fever.
“ It was believed that, we wouldn’ t get cured without antibiotics. The practice now however, has changed where doctors do not idly prescribe antibiotics. They would suggest supplements in stead.
She said that the common practice was to stop antibiotics upon recovering from the illness. However, she believes that the full course of antibiotics should be completed as prescribed to cure the illness.
“ The recurrence of the illness after weeks or months, happens when the full course is not completed,” she said.
Ganesh Narayanan who believes in traditional medication said that he uses them to increase the antibody and to strengthen the inner core of the body.
“ This in addition to home cooked food prevents from frequently falling ill and from taking antibiotics. It has also deterred from high blood pressure and other illness caused by age,” he said.
Hisham Mohammad Tahir said that he doesn’ t take antibiotics. However, the father of the seven children claims that the doctor frequently
the industry of agriculture and veterinar.
“ We can educate doctors by addressing the importance of using antibiotic cautiously and we may also establish an understanding with the public to be aware of antimicrobial resistance.
“ The use of antibiotics among farmers was discussed during a meeting with the MOH,” he added.
The use of antibiotics as a precaution among farmers is a common practice in order to avoid livestock from being infected with diseases.
However, this questionable culture is clearly defeating the purpose of MOH and MMA’ s efforts in fighting against antimicrobial resistance.
Ravindran explained:“ We at MMA are trying hard in delivering information concerning antibiotics. We used various platforms such as Facebook in order to reach the mass.”
“ Through MOH, we really try to inform the public regarding the threat of antimicrobial resistance.
“ Nonetheless, MOH alongside the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry will need to work hand in hand in the aspects of educating the agriculture industry especially farmers.
“ Disseminating information towards doctors is not difficult as they are aware of the danger of antibiotic resistance.”
“ However it is a daunting task in educating the livestock industry.”
In spite of that, Ravindran suggest information regarding antimicrobial resistance should also be conveyed to a much younger generation.
“ We need to start educating the young especially in schools. The doctors will do their job in terms of delivering information to the parents but how many of them will actually educate their children regarding antibiotics?
“ So it is important for matters like these to be delivered directly towards children in school,” he said.
Faridah Jamidi Hassan.
Ganesh Narayanan.