Antibiotics do not work against viruses that cause common colds and flus. If the person incorrectly uses antibiotics – modifies the dose, frequency or length of the treatment prescribed by the doctor – the bacteria will survive and can become resistant. Epidemiologist Ecaterina Busuioc, division head at the National Public Health Agency, said the repeated and incorrect use of antibiotics contributes to increasing the number of bacteria resistant to antibacterials, IPN reports.
Antibiotics are used to treat some types of bacterial infection, such as pneumonia caused by pneumococci, bloodstream infections caused by staphylococci etc. Not all antibiotics are active against all bacteria. There are over 15 different classes of antibiotics that differ by chemical structure and by their effect on bacteria. An antibiotic can be effective against only one type or against several types of bacteria, Ecaterina Busuioc noted in an interview that was disseminated by the Ministry of Health.
“Always follow the doctor’s advice on the time and way of taking antibiotics. Don’t share the drugs with other persons and don’t use the medicines that remained from previous cures. If we take antibiotics repeatedly and incorrectly, the number of bacteria resistant to antibacterials grows. This way, if you, your children and your family members at a certain moment need antibiotics, these can no longer have an effect,” stated the epidemiologist.
The medical treatment for pneumonias caused by bacteria fails owing to the irrational and excessive use of antibacterials. The Republic of Moldova is among the top 30 countries by the number of cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
Globally, 700,000 people die annually due to complications caused by antimicrobial resistance. It is estimated that by 2050, the phenomenon can cause more victims than cancer and death figures are expected to reach 10 million annually.
