Penicillin , which was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928, was the first antibiotic to be used . Since then, many other antibiotics have been discovered in the quest to destroy more bacteria and minimise side effects. What do antibiotics do? Antibiotics are drugs used to treat bacterial infections. Antibiotics do not act on infections caused by viruses , such as colds and flu. They are not used to treat fever or muscle pain, throat pain or headaches . For these ailments, we use medicines called antipyretics, such as paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid or ibuprofen, among others. Bacteria vs Virus Bacteria and viruses exist everywhere in nature. Under normal conditions, our bodies have as many bacteria as human cells . Most of them do no harm or cause only minor illness. Some bacteria, for example, are used to contribute to the production of cheese or yoghurt. Bacteria are living single-cell microscopic beings . They multiply quickly, every 20 minutes. Antibiotics can block the bacteria’s ability to multiply. Viruses are simpler living beings, which are only visible under an electronic microscope. In order to multiply, they need to infect other cells. Antibiotics are unable to act on viruses. Why are some bacteria resistant to antibiotics? When we take an antibiotic, all bacteria in our body that are susceptible to that antibiotic die. However, when they multiply, some bacteria undergo modifications (mutations) that make them resistant to the antibiotic. The daughter cells, which keep multiplying, are also resistant, and this means the antibiotic eventually stops working. All antibiotics can lead to the development of resistant bacteria. The more an antibiotic is used, the more likely it is that resistance to its action will develop. Antibiotics are not only used to treat infections in humans. They are also used in animals and may therefore be present in small quantities in animal and plant products. Multi-resistant bacteria or “super bacteria” Some bacteria are called multi-resistant or “super” bacteria because they have become resistant to various antibiotics. These “super bacteria” are difficult to treat and usually require admission to hospital . For some of them, there are only one or two antibiotics that are effective. In other cases, there is currently no treatment. Despite significant improvements in recent years, Portugal remains one of the heaviest users of antibiotics of all the European Union countries. It is also one of the countries in which there is less awareness around their use. How are antibiotic-resistant bacteria created? Our bacteria can change when we take antibiotics to treat infections or repeatedly eat foods containing antibiotics. As our bacteria gain resistance, it becomes necessary to use progressively stronger antibiotics to fight each infection. This in turn leads to new resistance, resulting in a vicious circle. Resistant bacteria can also be created if we com into repeated contact with contaminated people or environments . So-called invasive procedures, such as catheterisation , can also make it more likely resistant bacteria will be produced. When we travel to certain parts of the world, our bodies can also gain resistant bacteria, even without being admitted to hospital. Finally, we can contract these bacteria if we have very frequent contact with live animals carrying them. What can we do to reduce resistant bacteria? As we have seen, there are a number of factors that result in the creation of resistant bacteria. However, we can reduce these by taking preventive measures. Preventive measures Use antibiotics only when indicated: do not use antibiotics unless a doctor has decided it is necessary and has given you a prescription; Do not take antibiotics for fever, headache or sore throat: most fevers are caused by a virus and will go away within 3 to 4 days. If you are not sure, please ask your doctor or call Health Line 24: 808 24 24 24; Do not use antibiotics that have been left over from previous courses of treatments or have been prescribed for other people; Always ask what infection you are using the antibiotic for; Follow the treatment duration and timing of the doses with great care: if you forget a dose, start again as soon as possible and make up for it later; Return all antibiotics left at the end of the course to the pharmacy (never throw them away); Cook meat and fish well: avoid eating them raw because heat deactivates any antibiotic residue that may exist in them; Wash vegetables well to remove any possible residue from them; Wash hands thoroughly before meals, after going to the toilet, after contact with areas of public use or after contact with animals; Always wash your hands after making contact with patients, residents or areas where they can be found (hospitals, health centres, dialysis units, day centres, old people’s homes and residences); Ensure appropriate hygiene with regard to your body and clothes , together with good eating habits and a healthy lifestyle. If you want to find out more, visit: Ministry of Health European Antibiotic Awareness Day World Health Organisation Facebook: EAAD.EU Twitter: @EAAD_EU #EAAD Author: Carlos Palos The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
