Literature Review
In the field of neonatology, researchers need to come to a consensus regarding the management of neonates given antimicrobial agents. According to Soll & Edwards, physicians initiate most antibiotics for suspected infection of early onset sepsis rather than proven infection, leading to overuse of medications (2015). Antibiotics are begun empirically based on risk factors such as maternal signs and symptoms (Soll & Edwards, 2015), even when the overall effects are more concerning considering the likelihood of an infection is small (Higgins et al., 2016). Schulman et al. (2015) & Puopolo et al. (2011) believe that extra doses of antibiotics increase the patients’ cost and length of hospitalization in addition to
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As a result, there is a need to study variation in thresholds for starting and stopping antibiotics and also emphasize the importance of only using potential harmful therapy when there is a clear benefit (Soll & Edwards, 2015).
Antimicrobial resistance. Overtime, microbes adapt to certain drugs causing them to mutate and resist drugs that would otherwise kill them or limit their growth (CDC, 2017). This resistance makes it harder for the body to fight infection since the existing drugs are less effective. Antimicrobial resistance affects over two million people in the US every year and of these two million, more than 23,000 die as a result (Michaelidis et al., 2016). Seemingly, the number one cause of antibiotic resistance is use of antibiotics, followed by the spread of resistant strains (CDC, 2017). The CDC also claims that resistant organisms require more costly and toxic alternatives and therefore, doctors should only prescribe antibiotics in appropriate durations when needed (2017). Colgan & Powers (2001) adds that appropriate prescribing of antibiotics may slow the rate of resistance. Unfortunately, physicians do not optimally prescribe antibiotics about half of the time (CDC, 2017), so antimicrobial resistance continues to be a growing issue in the field of medicine.
Average length of stay and cost of hospitalization.
Scientists have proved a direct relationship between antibiotic dosage and the emergence and spread of drug-resistant bacteria. Firstly, the overuse of antibiotics clearly drives the evolution of resistance. In many countries where antibiotics are unregulated and can be bought without a prescription. The lack of regulation leads to antibiotics being easily available, plentiful and cheap, which results in overuse. With the emergence of online shopping, people in countries where antibiotics are regulated also can get antibiotics from foreign countries. Secondly, incorrectly prescribed antibiotics also contribute to the promotion of resistant bacteria. Up to half of antibiotics used in humans are unnecessary and inappropriate. For example, a third of people believe that antibiotics are effective for the common cold, and the common cold is the most common reason
Every year a familiar scene plays out in clinic waiting rooms, chairs filled with miserable patients waiting to see their physician with complaints of a never ending cough and a constant nasal drip. More than likely, these patients will receive a prescription for antibiotics, but should they? Most acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs), do not require an antibiotic, the symptoms will resolve themselves over time without antibiotic treatment. Healthcare experts and scientists have warned the public about the dangers of overusing antibiotics, and there are thousands of studies to support that fact, but no one is listening. Patients are convinced they need to have antibiotic treatment, and somehow their time is wasted if they leave empty
Working with newborns and premature babies can be a stressful job. A neonatologist mainly focuses on high-risk cases where babies cannot be delivered without complications, such as heart and lung failure, and many other birth defects. This career is a dexterous job, so it requires a lot of patience and skill. It is expected to grow over the next 10 years, as the medical field is always in need of doctors and surgeons. A neonatologist is a great career for people who like the medical field, enjoy working with others, and have a big heart to care for infants and their families.
Although declining, inappropriate antibiotic prescribing continues to be a problem, especially the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for infections of predominantly viral etiology, increasing risk for developing drug-resistant infection complications (Aspinall, Good, Metlay, Mor, & Fine, 2008; Garau & Dagan, 2003). Few interventions have been effective in moderating antibiotic overuse for acute URTIs (Legare et al., 2012). Emphasis on infection control alone is inadequate to address the rise of resistant infections. Judicious prescribing is the
Antimicrobial resistant has been called one of the world's most pressing public health problems. Every time a person takes antibiotics, sensitive bacteria are killed, but resistant ones may be left to grow stronger and multiply. Although antibiotics can help treat bacterial infections, a possible side effect is that they can strengthen certain bacterial strains. Antibiotics are supposed to be used for bacterial infections, but are wrongly being used for both viral and bacterial infections. When we use antibiotics on viral infections, deadly bacteria multiplies and becomes stronger. We can fix this problem by using antibiotics for bacterial infections only.
Research has revealed how overprescribing antibiotic creates several adverse outcomes, including the development of multidrug resistant organisms, Clostridium difficile infection, and increased costs of health care (Myung et al., 2015). The Consumer Report (2015) raised concern for the overuse of antibiotics and how it leads to the loss of the ability to treat serious infections. Doctors,
Antibiotic resistance is when microorganisms, such as bacteria, are able to survive an exposure to antibiotics and these bacteria are now resistant to the effects of these antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance in bacteria has been an issue since antibiotics were discovered. The fact that bacteria can become resistant to our medical treatments such as antibiotics is a natural evolutionary process, but there are certain human contributions that definitely speed up the process. For example, one of the main contributions that will be discussed is the problem of over prescription of the antibiotic drugs. The
Antibiotic resistance is becoming a more prevalent issue. This is a growing dilemma because, not only do patients have the potential to develop resistance, but they also can transmit the resistant bacteria to others (McKellar, 2014). Additionally, it is estimated that over one-third of all antibiotics prescribed to patients are unnecessary (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). Overutilization of antibiotics is a growing problem due to some patients’ inappropriate demands for antibiotics or misdiagnoses by prescribers, however, underutilization of antibiotics can be just as problematic. Physicians are trained to use good antimicrobial stewardship when prescribing antibiotics; only giving them to patients who truly do have a bacterial infection. This becomes an issue when providers are too cautious and do not prescribe antibiotics in an attempt not to contribute to antibiotic resistance. Unfortunately, this caution could have a detrimental effect on the health of patients who actually need the antibiotics. To combat this issue, we must find a balance between good antimicrobial stewardship to minimize resistance while also taking underutilization into consideration. We, as pharmacists, are at a unique position between the physician and
Antibiotics-resistant organisms have become one of the most serious threats to public health, infecting over two million people and killing approximately 23,000 people annually.1 According to the CDC, “total inappropriate antibiotic use,” such as prescribing unnecessary antibiotics or giving the wrong dose or duration, makes up to 50% of all outpatient antibiotic use,2,3 and in 2009, the United States spent $10.7 billion on antibiotics, indicating that there is a lot of potential money to save.4
With all of our modern advances, it seems somewhat strange that chronic health problems have become so commonplace. When antibiotics were discovered, they predicted the end of disease. Instead, we now have a world full of frightening antibiotic resistant infections.
In 1992 Shapiro et al. published their research informing providers prophylactic antimicrobial treatment is not routinely indicated [2] There were a total of 387 patients in the controlled trial, 203 patients assigned to receive amoxicillin and 182 were given a placebo [2]. Either 250mg of amoxicillin or a placebo was given to subjects three times a day for ten days. 15 subjects dropped out and 7
Future studies should concentrate on introducing intravenous antibiotics to pre-hospital setting, which would dramatically decrease the time interval to administration of antibiotics. However, safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness would need to be taken into account through conducting randomized controlled trials to find out the effect on reducing delay, infection and occurrence of adverse effects
The incidence of neonatal septicemia caused by Gram negative bacilli (GNB) has increased in the past decade and it is often associated with higher mortality rate.(3) The emergence of multi-drug resistant among gram negative bacilli specifically Extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing GNB deserves particular concerns, as the treatment options available for multiple drug resistant (MDR) strain is often limited. Inappropriate initial antibiotics predispose these neonates to severe sepsis and poor outcome (4). Sepsis related mortality is largely preventable with prevention of sepsis, timely recognition, and rational antimicrobial therapy (5).
The overuse of antibiotics has been a problem for well over a decade. This misuse leads to many nonvisible problems arising within the human population. As the use of antibiotics increases, the number of antibiotic resistant bacteria also increases. When bacteria become resistant to an antibiotic, another antibiotic must be used to try and kill it and the cycle becomes vicious. Michael Martin, Sapna Thottathil, and Thomas Newman stated that antimicrobial resistance is, “an increasingly serious threat to global public health that requires action across all government sectors and society” (2409).
The overuse of antibiotics is creating stronger germs; some bacteria is already resistant to antibiotics. Therefore, when bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, it is difficult and costly to treat that infection. The treat to a serious bacterial infection is a big threat to public health.