Excessive Use of Antibiotics Alexander

Excessive Use of Antibiotics

Alexander Fleming was the one to discover penicillin in 1929. He discovers the substance in 1940, with the help of other specialists, thus making one of the most important discoveries in the history of human kind. Selman Waksman coined the term "antibiotic." He used it in 1942 to name every each of the substances that are formed by a microorganism which is antagonistic to the development of other microorganism in high intensity. The definition that Selman Waksman used did not relate to the substances that are not formed by microorganism but kill the bacteria (gastric juices and hydrogen peroxide). Also the text did not include anything about synthetic antibacterial compounds (sulfonamides).

Now days, most of the antibiotics are semi-synthetic modifications of different natural compounds. For example the beta-lactam antibacterials include the carbapenems, the cephalosporins and the penicillins, which is a substance produced by fungi. Aminoglycosides are substances that are detached from living organism. They are also antibacterials that are synthetic products, the sulfonamides and the guinolones, for example. Antibacterials are divided in two groups: bactericidal agents and bacteriostatic agents. The first ones are killing bacteria, while the second are only slowing down bacteria growth.

Antibiotics are not only killing the "bad" bacteria but the ones that are benefic too. The most important benefic bacteria for human body are lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium bifidus. These bacteria help the human body in fighting against "bad" bacteria. Destroying this organism can make the human body less immune to bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. An excessive use of antibiotics destroys these benefic organisms, and, in this manner, leads to the yeast infection and other infections that can be even more harmful to the body. In the same time, antibiotics affect nutrients, such as vitamin a and C, which are needed in the fight against infections. Diarrhea is the one common effect of excessive use of antibiotics. This effect causes an important loss of nutrients, such as magnesium and zinc. Another effect of excessive use of antibiotics is the fact that the individual develops resistance to the substance. The bacteria become immune to the drugs, and create a new generation of bacteria, one that is stronger than the first. In this line of ideas, there are some infectious diseases that are unaffected by drugs. So, consequently, the excessive use of antibiotics is not helping the disease disappear, decreases immunity and makes diseases stronger, given that bacteria are not killed by the treatment.

Also, it is important that before the administration of the antibiotic one makes sure that there are no alternatives available. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that more than 10 millions antibiotics are prescribed for viral diseases that can be treated with an easier treatment.

Farmers and ranchers use antibiotics in an excessive way too. They use antibiotics not only for the treatment of animals, but also for accelerating their growth. Chicken are treated with antibiotics and with a drug with contains arsenic. These drugs are given to birds when they are sick, and also, to make them grow faster. This treatment on birds is dangerous for humans because, if the meat isn't cooked well, people can fall ill, and the drugs that they were normally using would not destroy bacteria. This is because of the fact that excessive use of antibiotics on chicken made the bacteria develop stronger in its body and because the meat isn't cooked properly, bacteria are transferred in the organism, being immune to common drugs. This case is not only for chicken, but for the other animals, such as pigs, cows, etc. So, the meat or other products from chickens, pigs, cows that have been administrated antibiotics is not healthy, and can make people fall ill, with their affections being difficult to treat. With these problems in mind, farmers and ranchers should be careful regarding the administration of antibiotics on animals.

Antibacterial products are necessary in some situations. When you are on a road trip and you don't have water or soap, you can effectively use an antibacterial soap or lotion instead. You can use antibacterial soap excessively, because, contrary to what you have learned, the human body can't live without bacteria. The human body is strong and can fight against bacteria alone. As in the excessive use of antibiotics, when bacteria become stronger and immune to drugs, the excessive use of antibacterial products can make surface antibacterial agents stronger. It was showed that children, who are raised in an antiseptically clean environment, can easily become victims of allergies, asthma and eczema. You can use normal soap every day, because washing your hands with it keeps some germs away.