The increasing threat of antibiotic resistance and internal medicine’s role in mitigating it

First of all,

The worldwide health issue of antibiotic resistance seriously jeopardizes human welfare. Bacteria that are resistant to these life-saving medications have evolved as a result of the overuse and abuse of antibiotics. Consequently, treating common infections becomes more difficult, which raises death rates, lengthens hospital stays, and increases healthcare expenses. Healthcare practitioners in the area of internal medicine are essential in combating antibiotic resistance because they use a multimodal strategy that includes education, prudent prescription, and the creation of alternative treatment plans.

Knowing Antibiotic Resistance: Antibiotic resistance is the result of bacteria developing defense mechanisms against the effects of antibiotics, which makes the drugs useless. Although this process happens naturally throughout time, human activity has sped it up. The issue is exacerbated by the overprescription of antibiotics for viral illnesses, their usage in agriculture, and patient noncompliance with treatment plans.

The Effects of Resistance to Antibiotics:

Antibiotic resistance has wide-ranging effects on people’s health, both personally and publicly. Once treated with ease, common illnesses may turn fatal. The emergence of resistant bacteria poses a threat to medical interventions such as cancer therapies, surgical operations, and other treatments that depend on efficient antibiotics. The financial cost of extended hospital stays and the creation of new medications further highlight how urgent it is to solve this problem.

Internal Medicine’s Role:

1. Education and Awareness: Internal medicine professionals are essential in spreading knowledge about the risks associated with antibiotic resistance among their peers and the broader population. This entails spreading knowledge about the appropriate use of antibiotics, the significance of finishing recommended regimens, and the incapacity of antibiotics to treat viral infections. Internal medicine may significantly reduce the number of needless prescriptions by promoting a culture of safe antibiotic usage.

2. Diagnostic Precision: The efficient administration of antibiotics depends on a precise diagnosis. In order to provide targeted and suitable antibiotics, internal medicine specialists must use sophisticated diagnostic technologies to determine the agents causing infections. Quick diagnostic procedures, such as molecular methods, assist in differentiating between viral and bacterial infections, lowering the need for broad-spectrum medicines and lowering the possibility of resistance building.

3. Antibiotic Stewardship Programs: Internal medicine specialists have the opportunity to actively engage in and support antibiotic stewardship initiatives inside medical facilities. By choosing the appropriate medication, dosage, and length of time, these programs aim to maximize the usage of antibiotics. Additionally, they stress the need of de-escalation and discontinuance when required in order to minimize the selection pressure that leads to resistance and avoid needless antibiotic exposure.

4. Research and Development: The field of internal medicine is at the forefront of medical research, and practitioners have a big say in what new antibiotics and non-traditional treatment approaches become. Internal medicine specialists may contribute to the discovery of novel strategies for combating antibiotic-resistant illnesses by participating in clinical trials and cooperative research projects. This include investigating novel pharmacological classes, combination treatments, and non-antibiotic strategies including bacteriophage therapy.

5. Patient Engagement and Compliance: It is essential that internal medicine practitioners and patients establish excellent communication. Physicians may improve patient knowledge and compliance by outlining possible adverse effects, the reasoning for antibiotic prescriptions, and the significance of finishing the recommended course of treatment. Making sure patients are involved in their own treatment promotes the prudent use of antibiotics and lowers the risk of non-compliance.

6. International Collaboration: Since antibiotic resistance transcends national boundaries, internal medicine practitioners should support worldwide initiatives by working with foreign institutions, researchers, and medical service providers. An better organized and successful response to antibiotic resistance may result from the worldwide sharing of best practices, information, and resources.

In conclusion, antibiotic resistance is a serious problem that calls for a coordinated, all-encompassing strategy. As the foundation of healthcare, internal medicine is essential to resolving this dilemma. Internal medicine practitioners may help ensure that antibiotics remain useful weapons in the battle against bacterial illnesses via research and development, patient involvement, education, accurate diagnosis, antibiotic stewardship, and international cooperation. The ability of academics, politicians, healthcare professionals, and the general public to collaborate in the face of this danger to global health is critical to the success of these initiatives.

#internal medicine
#Pantai Hospital Malaysia

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