Be careful with overconsumption of antibiotics, it is a major threat to global health.

According to the World Health Organization, misuse will have serious consequences.

The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to talk about a new pandemic, but it is not about the coronavirus, but about antibiotic resistance (AMR), which can cause many deaths in the world. According to the US National Institutes of Health (NHI), bacterial infections are responsible for more than 7 million deaths worldwide. And of those, at least 1.3 million were the direct result of drug-resistant bacteria.

LONDON. – Overuse of antibiotics is a global public health problem that poses a serious threat to both individuals and society. As antibiotics become more common and accessible, their misuse and overuse has led to the development of resistant strains of bacteria, creating a crisis of antimicrobial resistance that threatens the effectiveness of these life-saving medicines.

Around 35,000 people die every year in Europe as a result of antibiotic-resistant infections caused by overuse. Although they are necessary to treat some diseases, toothache, cystitis and colds are pathologies in which too much is consumed, giving rise to so-called antibacterial resistance, a threat to global health as bacteria spread.

Is overuse of antibiotics harmful to health? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, and inappropriate use of these drugs is a key contributing factor to this problem. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, but they are not effective against viral infections such as colds or flu.

However, many patients and doctors indiscriminately prescribe antibiotics to treat viral diseases, contributing to the development of bacterial resistance.

In addition to this, overuse of antibiotics can also have serious consequences on human health. Side effects of antibiotics can range from gastrointestinal discomfort to severe allergic reactions.

Additionally, long-term use of antibiotics can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in the body, which can increase the risk of infections caused by resistant bacteria and long-term health problems.

Recommendations for preventing overuse of antibiotics

To counter this growing threat, it is critical to promote the responsible use of antibiotics both in healthcare settings and in society at large. Doctors should prescribe antibiotics only when necessary and ensure that the full course of treatment is completed to prevent bacterial resistance. Patients, in turn, should follow their doctor’s instructions and not self-medicate with antibiotics without proper evaluation.

Additionally, it is important to invest in the research and development of new antibiotics and therapeutic alternatives to address the problem of antimicrobial resistance. Governments and public health organizations should also implement policies and programs to promote the rational use of antibiotics and raise public awareness of the dangers of overuse of these drugs.

Thus, the overuse of antibiotics poses a serious threat to public health and requires urgent and coordinated action at the global level. By promoting responsible antibiotic use and addressing factors that contribute to bacterial resistance, we can protect the effectiveness of these life-saving medicines and ensure a healthier future for everyone.

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