Elijah Mobley M.D. FACS

Drug resistance is by no means limited to Western or other industrialized countries. A major battle for hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare institutions is the rapid dissemination of drug-resistant organisms inside the facility as well as the community at large. Some recent examples include pneumonias and sexually transmitted diseases. With drug resistant microbes on the rise, it only follows that those infected with these organisms are more likely to have longer hospital stays and expend more on healthcare costs.
It may be important to note the differences in antibiotic treatment options so that you might be better informed. First things first, there is an important distinction between bacteria and viruses. Bacteria are found pretty much everywhere; except that they cannot survive in blood cells. There are bacteria that can cause illness such as those found in strep throat. Viruses on the other hand are smaller and reproduce at the cellular level in the human body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “Antibiotics, also known as antimicrobial drugs, are drugs that fight infections caused by bacteria. Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic, penicillin, in 1927. After the first use of antibiotics in the 1940s, they transformed medical care and dramatically reduced illness and death from infectious diseases.” Antimicrobials can be either synthetic or naturally cultivated.
There are a few viral infections that should not be treated with an antibiotic protocol. These include: colds, flu, bronchitis, and some ear infections. Of course, your doctor will have all the information you need concerning drug resistant strains and what might be the best course of action for your needs.