Preventing Antibiotic Resistance in Pet Home Therapies

Today, a wider variety of antibiotics has been developed, making them one of the most frequently prescribed medications in both human and veterinary medicine.

01. The Emergence of DrugResistant Bacteria

As the use of antibiotics has increased, a new threat has arisen: drugresistant bacteria. When a bacterium develops resistance to the effects of a particular antibiotic, it is termed as drugresistant. These bacteria are unresponsive to antibiotics and often mutate to counteract their impact. Over time, they can evolve into nearly indestructible "superbugs" that are immune to common antibiotics.

Drugresistant bacteria can cause immense suffering and danger to patients, as these infections were once easily manageable.

Research suggests that drug resistance is a direct consequence of the widespread use of antibiotics. Antibiotics work by sufficiently killing or weakening bacteria, allowing the body's natural immune defenses to take over and finish off the remaining bacteria. However, if antibiotics are stopped prematurely when symptoms disappear, the surviving bacteria may continue to grow and reproduce. These remaining bacteria are often those that were initially more resistant to the antibiotics, and as they multiply, they can produce even stronger drugresistant bacteria of their own.

02. Preventing the Development of Bacterial Resistance

Here are some simple principles to help prevent the development of bacterial resistance:

Always complete the full course of antibiotics

Avoid the misuse of antibiotics

Do not underdose when taking a single dose

Do not skip any doses

Remember the most important principle: never stop using antibiotics prematurely. Always finish the entire course, even if symptoms disappear. A complete course is necessary to achieve the desired outcome.

If a particular antibiotic is ineffective, do not simply switch to another one in hopes of it working. This practice greatly increases the risk of bacteria developing resistance. The only way to confirm the effectiveness of an antibiotic is through a sensitivity test of the bacterial population, which will be covered in another article.

The last two points mean that if you administer a low dose, you may only kill the bacteria most sensitive to the drug, leaving behind more resistant and stronger bacteria to produce the next generation. Similarly, if you overuse medication, you may allow the strongest bacteria to develop resistance to higher doses, which will then be passed down to their offspring during reproduction.

These principles apply to both humans and animals alike. Always read the instructions carefully before taking antibiotics.

Never assume that halving the dose will also halve the harm to your body.