That dreadful day has finally happened. After years of predicting this outcome, news sources have recently reported the presence of a “superbug” in the U.S. A Pennsylvania woman, per researchers at the Department of Defense, developed a urinary tract infection with a bacteria that is resistant to the most powerful antibiotic, colistin. The most troubling aspect of this report is how easily the resistance can be spread between other bacteria, which is different than resistant bacteria of the past. An infectious disease specialist from the University of Minnesota, James Johnson, believes the MCR-1 gene, the gene that causes colistin resistance, probably occurred due to China’s use of colistin in food animals.
Overuse of antibiotics is the reason resistance occurs. Using antibiotics for viral infections is an example of antibiotic misuse. When resistance occurs, it simply means that the next time that particular bacteria is present, the previously used antibiotic will not be effective. Additionally, if the current problem with the antibiotic colistin persists and spreads, common, mild infections could be fatal.
So as a society, what is our role in containing the spread of resistant bacteria?
Let us first learn the difference between viral and bacterial infections. The common cold is a viral infection of the respiratory tract, which includes the nose, throat, airways and lungs. Viruses are special types of microorganisms that cannot reproduce without a host cell. Viruses can be spread horizontally via person to person and vertically via mother to child. Touching an infected doorknob then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth is an example of horizontal transmission.
Symptoms from a common cold usually come on gradually and can include fever, sore throat, coughing and muscle aches. There are over 200 different types of viruses that can cause the common cold and sadly, there are no cures. Treatments include symptomatic management such as pushing fluids, resting, smoking cessation, and gargling with warm, salt water. Treatment does not include antibiotics.
Antibiotics are utilized for bacterial infections. Strep throat, pneumonia and urinary tract infections are common examples of infections caused by bacteria. Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that vary in metabolic type, geometric shapes and habitats. A milliliter of fresh water, for example, contains about a million bacteria. The spread of bacterial infections is similar to that of viruses.
However, unlike viruses, bacteria do not need a host to survive. Bacteria can survive in harsh environments such as extreme heat and cold as well as radioactive waste. Most bacteria are harmless and some are essential to bodily functions like helping to digest food. Less than 1 percent of bacteria cause illness in people.
So now that this “superbug” is in our country, who is responsible for curtailing this potentially dangerous situation? We are ALL responsible: providers and patients! For instance, as patients, we have to understand that the most common infections are viral. Therefore, just because we have a cough and low grade fever does not mean that we need antibiotics. Viruses last anywhere from 7 – 10 days. Give it time! Moreover, as providers, we have to stop pacifying patients with antibiotics just because they threaten to leave our practices if we do not prescribe antibiotics.
We all have a part to play in breaking these horrible practices or we will all eventually have to suffer from previously treatable infections.
Your family doctor,
Denise Hooks-Anderson, M.D.
Assistant Professor
SLUCare Family Medicine
yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com
