Somos FCC - Nº5

W E L L N E S S everyone Once resistance is acquired, it can spread in two ways: • The dispersion of the same re- sistant strain. • The dispersal of the genes that generate it through mobile ge- netic elements such as plas- mids. In addition, resistant bacteria can be confined in certain reservoirs from which they can begin to spread to the rest of the population. These reservoirs may be farm animals, certain patients multi-treated with antibiotics, certain facilities such as ICUs (Intensive Care Units) or chro- nic patients. Antibiotic resistance is increasing worldwide to dangerous levels. Day after day, new resistance mecha- nisms are emerging and spreading across the globe that threaten our ability to treat common infectious diseases. A growing number of in- fections, such as pneumonia, tuber- culosis, septicaemia, gonorrhoea or food-borne diseases, are becoming increasingly difficult - and someti- mes impossible - to treat as antibio- tics become less effective. What can we do to tackle the pro- blem? The general population, all of us, can take a number of preventive measures: 1. Do not self-medicate and take an- tibiotics only when prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional. 2. Always follow your doctor’s instructions regarding dosa- ge and treatment time, and do not leave prematurely as the patient is feeling better. 3. Do not ask for antibiotics much less pressure the doctor to pres- cribe them if he does not deem it appropriate to prescribe them. A stressed and tired doctor may give in to the insistence of parents who are alarmed by their child’s fever and uninformed about the consequences of drug misuse. 4. Prevent infections by washing hands and preparing food hy- gienically, especially when sick at home, and by taking pro- tective measures during sex. 5. Keeping up to date wit h t he vacc inations recommen ded by t he healt h aut hor ities. 6. Obviously, the solution also invol- ves other types of measures that theadministrationmustputinplace: • Prescription of antibiotics only when prescribed by a physician. • Invest in research and deve- lopment of new antibiotics. • Information and dissemina- tion campaigns on how to prevent infections and the harmful effects of inappro- priate use of certain drugs, in particular antibiotics. • Greater control over the use of these and other drugs in lives- tock and animals intended for human consumption. In short, although these measures are beyond the control of the public, we can help not to make the situa- tion worse by providing adequate information and rational use of anti- biotics, relying on the prescription of health professionals and taking into account the other precautions indi- cated above. W E L L N E S S 49