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Antibiotic resistance is a growing global issue. According to the World Health Organization, antibiotic resistance is responsible for at least 700,000 deaths annually worldwide. Seeing these numbers continue to grow, we sat down with Haute MD expert Dr. Vineet Sandhu to discuss what and why antibiotic resistance plays such a large role in everyday life.

What is antibiotic resistance?

In areas of Africa, India, Indonesia, and the Caribbean there are malaria-resistant mosquitos. This occurs as the disease gets more prevalent to adapt to survival in the endemic popular. Antibiotic resistance is similar.

Antibiotic resistance refers to the ability of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites to resist the effects of antimicrobial drugs, such as antibiotics. To break this down, think of it this way. Antibiotics and antifungals kill germs that cause infections, but they also kill helpful germs that protect our bodies from infection. When these antibiotics and antifungals are present, they pressure bacteria and fungi to adapt. The antimicrobial-resistant germs survive and then multiply.

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Can antibiotic resistance be stopped?

Technically there is no way to stop the evolution of certain bacteria to develop resistance but there are ways to decelerate the evolution. One way is by decreasing the number of antibiotics for simple infections without complex history. Instead of taking seven to ten days of antibiotics, you would take fewer days of treatment, which is better for simple infections like UTI, bronchitis, sinusitis, etc.

Also having any type of healthy nutrition plan and exercise routine in place will continuously decrease resistance by decreasing the rates of illness.

What are prime examples of antibiotic resistance?

The most common resistance seen is in fluoroquinolones but it can occur in any antibiotic. Fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin) is known to be pumped into our chicken and meat which has increased resistance in our general population.

Penicillin was created in 1926 and since then the population in the United States has increased and changed dramatically. In addition, different comorbid disease processes have arrived (morbid obesity, diabetes, covid), which complicates matters in terms of survival. This requires a range of different treatments.

Sulfonamide resistance was originally reported in the late 1930s, and the same mechanisms operate some 70 years later.

Are the symptoms associated with antibiotic resistance?

There are many types of antibiotics therefore there are many signs of resistance to infection. If the symptoms do not get better within the time frame of the prescribed antibiotics or are worsening, that could be a sign of antibiotic infection.