What are the causes of antibiotics resistance ?

Antibiotic resistance has become a global threat, and with Antibiotic Awareness Week, it is important to understand the series of events that have led the world to this predicament. Originally touted as a miracle discovery, we are seeing that there can be too much of a good thing.

Explanation: The use of antibiotics has saved millions of lives, but its pervasive use to treat any infection, whether serious, minor, or even viral has lead to the increase in antibiotic resistance.  Antibiotics strictly target bacteria, but it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between viral and bacterial infections without costly tests. It is often less time-consuming and more cost effective to proactively prescribe antibiotics, rather than take precautions and prescribe only the correct treatment.

Another issue with antibiotics is the inability to monitor patient intake.  Antibiotic dosages are designed to eradicate entire populations of the pathogens. When antibiotics are not taken for the entire prescribed course, pathogenic bacteria can adapt to the presence of low dose antibiotics, and eventually form a population that is completely resistant to the antibiotic regardless of the dosage.

Antibiotic usage is also not exclusive to humans. Every day, antibiotics are used to treat livestock and fish to prevent infections.  Similar to overuse in humans, uncontrolled use of antibiotics creates a reservoir of bacteria that could become resistant, thus rendering the antibiotic useless.