Professional Documents
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Since long time ago, there have been a lot of diseases which are caused by
bacteria infections such as chronic bronchitis (Mensa & Trilla 2006, pp.42-54),
meningitis, syphilis (Trounce 2000, pp. 204-219), and also infecting wounds (Hernandez
2006, pp.326-337). These infections can bring harm to humans. In order to treat these
infections, some scientists and researchers have tried to find some chemical substances or
drugs that can fight against the bacteria; hence, cure the infections. The drugs and
chemical substances are now known as antibiotics (Gleckman & Czashor n.d.).
generate severe toxicity, severe side effects and drug-drug interactions (Gleckman &
Czashor, n.d.). Besides, in some cases, many bacteria are now resisting to certain
antibiotics and that antibiotics may be ineffective to treat the infections thus, may danger
the other patients (Walsh 2003). Gleckman and Czashor (n.d.) state that antibiotics are
still prescribed to cure some bacteria infections although they have the possibility to
develop down side effects. In addition, some parties believe that antibiotics are actually
safe if the antibiotics are taken properly (Lampiris & Maddix 2003, p.854).
Thus, based on this issue, this research aims to investigate the safety of antibiotics
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The areas that will be examined are:
• Background of antibiotics
This research is based on secondary sources which are web articles, seminar paper,
1.0 BACKGROUND
that stop bacteria or fungi from growing or even kill them outright (Walsh 2003).
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1.2 History of antibiotic
Bacteriologist in 1928 at London. He had found the penicillin in luck after looked
penicillin does not stop there until Norman G. Heatly found the way to produce
and grow penicillin in large scale (Heatly 1990). There were many antibiotics
(Amyes 2001; Waksman 1954). After that, antibiotics evolved in the way it is
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2.0 REASONS TO SUPPORT ANTIBIOTIC IS SAFE
practitioners should know that some particular conditions should be considered before
antibiotics are prescribed to any patient. The diagnosis of diseases is very important to
patients. Besides that, prescribing right types of antibiotics to the right infected patients
will prevent side effects. The physicians must consider correct dosage to the patients to
avoid overuse of the antibiotics. Moreover, the physicians also need to prove the
susceptibility of the antibiotics against the given bacteria by clinical trials. In additions,
after the clinical trials have proven the exact bacteria, the physicians should consider the
Lampiris and Maddix (2003, p.854) are also stated that testing bacterial pathogens in
vitro for their susceptibility to antibiotic agents are very vital in guaranteeing
to avoid resistance and adverse side effects. In additions, faults in susceptibility testing
are unusual, but the original outcome should be confirmed by retesting (Lampiris &
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Maddix 2003, p.854). It is proved that the selection of an antibiotic rests not only upon its
resistance and safety profile (Jog 2006: Davey & Nathwani 1997, p.150).
Some policies are set up to avoid antibiotics prescribing is disaster. Some policies
to control the use of antibiotic have been developed to promote the safety use of
p.239). As stated by Trounce (2000), many local policies implement some general format
such as a section which consist of a single member of each main group of antibiotics and
can be prescribed without procedure and was held as ward stock; and the other as a
preserve section containing the most newly developed antibiotics and are not regularly
prescribed without the association with the infection control team and are not kept as
ward stock. Trounce (2000, p. 239) also added that these policies require regular updating
and reviewing to take account of new drugs and altering patterns of microbial activities.
antibiotics are effective for some diseases and are less evident of resistance among
bacteria. For instance, fluoroquinolone (FQ) category of antibiotics offers some benefits
for clinicians when used as empirical treatment for respiratory tract infections (Mensa &
Trilla 2006, pp.42-54). Mensa and Trilla also added that third generation FQ
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garenoxacin) antimicrobial spectrum of activity susceptible against the major bacteria (H.
influenzae, M. catarrhalis, and S. pneumoniae) and minor bacteria (C. pneumoniae and
major side effects. FQ also can overcome β-lactam and penicillin-resistance bacteria
Besides that, some antibiotics produce less adverse side effects when treating
some diseases. Medical News Today website (2004) states that rifaximin, that is used to
prevent travelers’ diarrhea has less adverse side effects and low potential of resistance. It
is also mentioned that rifaximin has previously been shown to be safe and effective for
the treatment of travelers' diarrhea in clinical studies conducted in Mexico, Peru, India
and Kenya and has been prescribed internationally since 1987 and has been approved in
There are also certain antibiotics which are safe based on specific conditions.
Trounce (2000, p. 240) states that trimethoprim can treat urinary infections caused by E.
coli but must not be prescribed in the first 3 months of pregnancy. Gleckman and
Czachor (n.d.) explain that β-lactam antibiotics unusually cause adverse drug-drug
interactions side effects with some exception that will be stated in point no. 3.1. In
addition, some penicillin such as broad-spectrum ampicillin that is effective to cure many
types of bacteria such as salmonellae, E. coli, shigellae and H. influenzae (Trounce 2000,
p.225).
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3.0 REASONS TO OBJECT ANTIBIOTIC IS SAFE
Czashor (n.d.) reveals that drug-related toxicity from antibiotic was one of the most
frequent causes of death for hospitalized patients. There are a lot of side effects such as
insufficiency patients, elderly patients, and pregnant women. Some of these effects are
severe and the others are common (Gleckman & Czashor n.d.).
some particular antibiotic is taken in the presence of some drugs. For instance, Gleckman
and Czashor (n.d.) claim in their seminar paper that nafcillin has caused warfarin
mezlocillin extends methotrexate blood concentrations. For patients who are administered
When selecting a macrolide for the treatment of a bacterial respiratory tract infection, one
factor that would persuade selection is the fact that in contrast with erythromycin and
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observations, do not appear to exert adverse drug-drug interactions when administered to
patients who are receiving certain drugs such as carbamazepine, valproate and
ergotamine. These side effects are severe and are likely to occur if the patients do not
inform the physicians the medicines or drugs that were prescribed earlier to the patient
(Trounce 2000).
Besides the drug-drug interactions, antibiotics also kill good bacteria that help to
produce vitamins and trigger hormones. Some of the bacteria that are killed by antibiotics
are also vital in digesting human’s food. Because good bacteria are killed, the patients
suffer diarrhea and thrush which are minor side effects (Sachs 2005). The other minor
side effects are caused by commonly prescribed antibiotics are nausea and headache
Thirdly, antibiotics cause severe side effects to particular patients who are
suffering from diseases such as renal insufficiency, pregnant woman and elderly patients.
Gleckman and Czashor (n.d.) explain patients with renal insufficiency are at risk to
depression, and further renal compromise. Some antibiotic such as erythromycin, when
prescribed to patients with renal insufficiency, has been associated with reversible
hearing loss. Seymor and Walton (1988, p. 43), in their book claim that if the patient with
renal failure takes penicillin, the patient will suffer cerebral irritation and encephalopathy
with convulsions.
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Regarding the elderly patients, Gleckman and Czashor (n.d.) believe that when
some antibiotics are prescribed to the elderly, there were some possibilities of antibiotic
adverse effects. For instance, the age-related physiological decline in kidney function,
mostly when exacerbated by the harmful renal effects of diabetes mellitus, congestive
demanding careful drug selection, as well as clinical and laboratory monitoring. Elderly
patients often have multiple chronic disorders and receive numerous medications and
increase the risk of drug-drug interactions between antibiotics and the medications. The
specific effects that the elderly may suffer include the following; nephrotoxicity and
Moreover the side effects for pregnant women who consume penicillin and some
other kinds of antibiotics, there is no evidence of human fetal risk. To prevent any risk
and possibility of side effect, the antibiotics such as quinolones, tetracyclines, and
aminoglycosides should not be offered to pregnant patients unless there are no safe
alternative or effective drugs to manage their infections. Some other antibiotics should not
be prescribed to the pregnant women since it can increase the possibility for the
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3.2 Leads to the emergence of antibiotic-resistance bacteria
bacteria. Since antibiotics are widely used and prescribed, there is many recent studies
concern about antibiotic resistance and American Society of Microbiology has concerned
about the emergence of antibiotic resistance among bacteria since 1995 (Barker 1999, pp.
109-124). Antibiotic drug resistance occurs when the germ or bacteria in the body
develops resistance factors in their gene thus become resistant to the antibiotic (Bruce
2002, p.32; Crierie & Greig 2005, pp.213-214). Barker (1999) claims that antibiotic
resistance can have major impact on the treatment of infected patients. It is reported that
many are worried about the emergence of this problem and questioning whether
antibiotic can help the patients when they need it (medicalnewstoday.com 2006).
This problem can seriously affect many patients silently. This occurs when a
this particular antibiotic is present, the resistant forms of the bacteria will survive and
grow and eventually they rise as the dominant population (Halliday & Morton 1990, pp.
xviii-xxi). Halliday and Morton (1990, pp. xviii-xxi) also write that the antibiotic-
resistance bacteria will inactivate the antibiotic by altering the chemical structure of the
pump out antibiotic from its target area as soon as the antibiotic is present. Both methods
prevent antibiotic to kill the bacteria; hence, the diseases will not be cured.
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The emergence of antibiotic-resistance bacteria has now turned into a worldwide
problem which includes many groups of bacteria (Trounce 2000, p.238). This problem
restricts the usefulness of many previously effective antibiotics (Halliday & Morton
1990, pp. xviii-xxi). For instance, Barker (1999, pp. 109-124) emphasizes that
bacteraemia, has been susceptible to penicillin for 50 years before low level resistance
appeared in 1967 in Australia and high level resistance appeared in South Africa 10 years
pyrazinamide and ethambutol before the resistance appears after the introduction of
antituberculosis therapy. This problem increases the possibility of treatment failure and
relapse. Every year, the percentage of antibiotic resistance among particular bacteria
The increase of antibiotic resistance among the bacteria occurs because antibiotics
are prescribed widely. The consumption of antibiotic without any diagnosis or without
physicians’ advice can lead to this problem. Hence, with the emergence of these drug
resistance bacteria, some of the diseases or infections cannot be treated and this may lead
CONCLUSION
In short, antibiotics are safe if used properly with certain conditions. Besides,
antibiotics are safe if the correct antibiotics are used against correct bacterial infections.
The opponents of antibiotic claim that antibiotic is not safe because it bring side effects to
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the patients and it also contributes to the emergence of antibiotic drug-resistance bacteria.
But, these negative effects only occur if antibiotics are prescribed wrongly. In addition, if
the antibiotics are prescribed properly, most of the side effect cases are only minor side
effects.
treating bacterial infections despite the side effects that may be occurred since it is the
only way to kill and stop the bacteria. Thus, it can be concluded that antibiotic is safe for
human consumptions.
(2361 words)
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