Antibiotic Resistance: What You Need to Know

What is antibiotic resistance?

Antibiotics are medications designed to kill bacteria. Over time, some bacteria can adapt to these medicines, becoming resistant so that antibiotics can no longer eliminate them. This phenomenon is known as antibiotic resistance.

Bacteria are microscopic organisms that can enter the body. “While many bacteria are harmless and even beneficial, some can cause diseases when they multiply within the body,” says Usama Mitry MD, PIH Health Family Medicine Physician. Before the advent of antibiotics, bacterial infections often led to severe illness. Today, antibiotics make it easy to treat many bacterial infections.

However, antibiotic resistance is a global concern, leading to infections that are difficult to treat. When bacteria become resistant, standard antibiotics and sometimes other medications become ineffective, making antibiotic resistance more prevalent.

What causes antibiotic resistance?

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria are exposed to antibiotics. While most bacteria are killed, a few may survive by:

• Developing mechanisms to neutralize the antibiotic
• Expelling the antibiotic from their cells
• Mutating so that the antibiotic no longer affects them

Resistant bacteria can proliferate and spread, causing infections that are hard to treat. They can also transfer resistance to other bacteria. Using antibiotics when they are not needed increases the risk of resistance.

What can I do to prevent antibiotic resistance?

The best way to prevent antibiotic resistance is to use antibiotics properly:

• Do not take antibiotics for viral infections.
• Do not save antibiotics for future illnesses.
• Follow the prescribed dosage and complete the full course of treatment.
• Never take antibiotics prescribed for someone else.

“Healthcare providers can help by prescribing antibiotics only when necessary, targeting the specific bacteria involved, and limiting the duration of antibiotic use,” says Dr. Mitry. “Reducing antibiotic use in livestock also helps prevent resistance.”

Healthcare settings should enforce good hygiene and infection control to prevent the spread of resistant bacteria.

Key points about antibiotic resistance:

• Standard antibiotics cannot kill resistant bacteria, which are widespread.
• Resistant bacteria can cause difficult-to-treat infections.
• If you have a resistant infection, treatment options may be limited.
• Taking unnecessary antibiotics encourages resistant bacteria.
• Good hygiene practices help prevent the spread of resistant infections.
• Follow your healthcare provider’s directions when taking antibiotics.

Next steps:

To make the most of your healthcare visits:

• Know the reason for your visit and your desired outcomes.
• Prepare questions beforehand.
• Bring someone to help ask questions and remember information.
• Note down any new diagnoses, medications, treatments, or instructions.
• Understand why new treatments are prescribed and their side effects.
• Inquire about alternative treatments.
• Understand the purpose and implications of recommended tests or procedures.
• Know what to expect if you decline a treatment or test.
• Record follow-up appointment details.
• Learn how to contact your provider with questions.

By using antibiotics responsibly, only when necessary and as prescribed, we can help slow the spread of resistant bacteria. Be sure to work together with your primary care physician to make informed decisions during healthcare visits, follow prescribed treatments diligently, and advocate for policies that reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. To find a doctor, visit PIHHealth.org/Doctors

Usama S. Mitry MD

Dr. Mitry likes to talk about the joy his family medicine practice brings. He derives the most satisfaction from caring, healing and helping others while being able to treat a variety of diseases and patient age groups. Dr. Mitry belongs to the St. Paul American Coptic Orthodox Church in Tustin and Santa Verena Charity in Downey. In his spare time, he enjoys the great outdoors and traveling as well as attending church and performing charity work.

View Dr. Mitry's Profile

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