Too much use of the miracle drugs we know as antibiotics can lead to harmful, long-term effects on the body. In an editorial recently published in the journal Nature, Dr. Martin Blaser, chairman of the department of medicine at New York University Langone Medical Center, cautioned that although antibiotics provide many health benefits for those who are in need of them, overuse of the drugs may be changing our entire bacterial makeup.Blaser warns of the potential dangers of these changes, in addition to the increase in risk for the development of antibiotic resistance, and beseeches doctors to be more cautious when prescribing antibiotics. Blaser also theorized that too much use of antibiotics could promote a dramatic increase in the occurrence of a number of diseases and medical conditions, such as type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and allergies, due to the destruction of protective bacteria in the body.
Antibiotics are chemical substances derived from microorganisms like fungi and bacteria that are used to destroy or inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms. The most common use is in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, though it can also be used to treat minor discomforts and aid in the healing of minor wounds.
Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in a way that reduces or eliminates the effectiveness of antibiotic drugs. So it is important that antibiotic drugs be used appropriately and carefully and used only to people with bacterial infections who need them the most.
In an interview with ABC News, Blaser acknowledged, “Antibiotics are miraculous…. They’ve changed health and medicine over the last 70 years. But when doctors prescribe antibiotics, it is based on the belief that there are no long-term effects. We’ve seen evidence that suggests antibiotics may permanently change the beneficial bacteria that we’re carrying.”
Blaser pointed out that until science finds a way of creating antibiotics designed to destroy specific organisms, rather than wiping out all bacteria, elimination of overuse of the drugs is the best method for prevention of rampant disease, and preservation of good bacteria necessary to maintaining health.
Blaser readily admits that when given appropriately, antibiotics saves lives. However, studies have shown that antibiotics are often prescribed prior to doctors determining whether and infection is viral or bacterial. The fact is that antibiotics do nothing to help a viral infection, and when the drugs are used for this type of infection, good bacteria, called flora, is destroyed without any benefit.
The presence of flora in the gut is essential to good health in many ways, such as boosting the body’s immunity. Some researchers theorize that destroying flora with the use of antibiotics may contribute to health conditions including obesity, and even cancer. Altering flora can promote certain superbugs to colonize in the gut and then get into the bloodstream.
Blaser says that the average American child will have received 10 to 20 courses of antibiotics by the age of 18 years, and that 33 to 50 percent of pregnant women will receive at least one course during pregnancy. His report calls for more careful prescribing of antibiotics, especially among pregnant women and in babies, who are just beginning to establish colonies of flora in the gut.
It is not yet known if people can overcome resistance and bacterial changes. Blaser commented, “I think we'll soon be inoculating babies with these lost bacteria.”
However, being cautious about the use of antibiotics does not warrant discarding the advice of a physician who recommends their use. In addition, effective probiotics can help to replace lost flora after taking the medications.
When it comes to proper use, FDA recommends the following:
- Don’t skip doses and take your medicine as prescribed. Antibiotics are most effective when taken as prescribed.
- Don’t save antibiotics. The drug is meant for a particular infection at that time. Don’t use leftover medicine. Taking the wrong drug can delay the appropriate treatment and your infection might get worse.
- Don’t take antibiotics prescribed for others. Only a health care professional can determine the right treatment for your infection.
Soure: HealthNews
