Antibiotic Resistance

     During my practice, usually there are many walk-in-customers who asked for antibiotics. These are some customers that i often encountered :

Pharmacist: What can i do for you?

Customer: I want to buy antibiotic (without prescription or some with a so called " sample")

Pharmacist : Why do you need that?

Customer A : I  want to keep it just in case if i have infection, i can take it

Customer B : I have sore throat and my doctor always give me that 

Customer C : I have toothache  

Customer D : Of course i need it. if i don't need it, i don't ask. You stupid xxxx. Do you know the function of the drugs? Where are you graduated? ( these are some rude customers, often i will just ignored them)

When i refused to sell it to them, they will start yelling or threaten me or say that they will go and make a complain. Hey people, please try to understand the function of antibiotic before you even start taking it. All the superbugs were created because of you. Try to remember that we are not there to make your life miserable or make you suffer more, we are just trying to do our job and we have the right to make the decision that we think are most appropriate. 

Some History of Antibiotics 

        The best way to understand a situation is to know its history : 

In 1941, Penicillin was created and  was called the " wonder drug' because it could control and cured many serious bacterial infections. People believed that infectious disease would become a history ; but, this is not the case. Due to the widespread use of penicillin, the bacteria began to evolve and fight back. Bacteria mutated and when they survive, they passed down the resistant trait to their offspring. Therefore, within a few years, penicillin-resistant bacteria were found. Then , new antibiotic (Methcillin) were developed to kill off these penicillin-resistant bacteria but methicillin- resistant bacterias were developed too... Stronger antibiotics were created ( Vancomycin) but , there appears again super bugs that are resistant to it.... this is like a non- ending fight between human and bacteria !! 

A cartoon of how penicillin- resistant- bacteria were formed

Why do antibiotic resistance occurred? 

        When a bacteria population were exposed to an antibiotic, the bacteria that are susceptible to the antibiotic would be killed while the bacteria that are resistant to it will survive. These resistant - bacteria would proliferate and spread. Thus, antibiotic would kill off the "weak" bacteria but increase the number of those " strong" one,  Why is this happening when the antibiotics were suppose to kill off the bacteria? These are the reasons:

1) People do not finish their course of antibitics when they thought they have recovered. When the symptoms dissapeared, they thought all the germs were killed, they will stop taking the antibiotics. But, in the real situation, the only bacteria that were killed were the weaker one, the  stronger one survive and spread. This make the same antibiotic USELESS next time when the person were infected with the same bacteria infection.  ( proof : the sample that they bring me)

Ha ha.. The bacteria lecturer giving out clue to the new bacteria

2) Take the antibitotic when it is a viral infection and not a bacterial infection e.g : common cold and flu. Virus wont be killed and they will developed into a more harmful species.

    Don't blame others when super bugs like AH1N1 were discovered. Blame yourself because it is you that created all these super bugs, because it is you who misuse the antibiotics !! 

A cartoon showing scientists discovering superbugs

Some news and articles about antibiotic resistance :
1) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7608167.stm
2) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7520689.stm
3) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7050546.stm