The increasing antibiotics misuse has led to experts worrying about growing ineffectiveness of the antibiotics due to antibiotics resistance by the microorganisms. Antibiotics are medications that are used to treat bacterial infections ranging from skin to systemic ones. Antibiotics misuse is, “a situation where people use antibiotics to treat conditions or infections that are not necessarily caused by bacteria,” says Jacob Masige, a pharmaceutical technologist based in Aga Khan University Hospital, Kitengela, Kenya. “It can also occur when one takes an antibiotic and fails to complete the prescribed dose.”

It is estimated that, “six out of ten people using antibiotics are misusing them,” he says. Some infections such as common colds do not require treatment with antibiotics since they are caused by viruses. Other conditions include toothache and skin rashes. Commonly misused antibiotics drugs are Amoxicillin, Augmentin(amoxicillin-clavulinic acid) and Zinnat(cefuroxime).

Dangers of antibiotics misuse

Failure to use antibiotics correctly leads to resistance by the perceived small bacteria. “Today, treatment of simple infections such as tonsillitis has been complicated by antibiotics resistance such that antibiotics that used to work previously are no longer effective,” he says. “One has to use a third generation cephalosporin or Augmentin to treat tonsillitis whereas previously the first generation cephalosporins or amoxicillin used to be effective. In other cases the newer drugs do not even work.”

“We have exhausted the antibiotics in the market such that in future we are likely to have infections that are not treatable,” he laments. “It takes a lot of time and resources to develop new antibiotics and many companies have shied away from that venture.”

“In Western Africa, many countries are misusing antibiotics leading to a high prevalence of drug resistance tuberculosis,” he says.

Misuse of antibiotics has also been associated with weak immune system. “Antibiotics are chemicals and can weaken your body cells hence you become prone to getting more serious bacterial infections.”

Why the misuse?

The common reason for antibiotics misuse is, “they can be sold over the counter by pharmaceutical technologists, hence many of them do not request the patient to go for a lab test to ascertain the illness of the patients,” he says.

In other cases unqualified personnel prescribe the drugs to patients or even patients prescribe themselves the drugs.  “Antibiotics should be prescribed by qualified healthcare professionals such as doctors and clinicians. If one has to use antibiotics, they must get tested to confirm they have bacterial infection.”

Economic status has been faulted as a contributor to misuse of antibiotics. “Quality medical care is expensive hence many people shy away from going to hospitals and result to buying medications over the counter.”

Lack of proper training is a major factor. “Many people operating pharmaceutical shops are quacks who do not understand the treatment guidelines.” He faults regulatory authorities for failing to regulate the medical industry adequately.

Greed by businessmen has been mentioned as a contributing factor. “Many pharmaceutical outlets are money minded and do not care about patient’s welfare,” he says. “So long as they sell the drugs to make profits, they surely do it.”

Prevention

The regulatory authorities should step up their roles by ensuring that only qualified personnel are allowed to operate the pharmaceutical outlets. “Many outlets are run by non-medics who give out antibiotics without prescriptions and without proper testing,” he says. “The problem has run out of hands so much so that supermarkets and regular shops are stocking antibiotics over their shelves like sweets. Supermarkets should not be allowed to stock any drugs.”

Guidelines should be provided on antibiotics use and distributed to every pharmaceutical outlet and they should be followed strictly.

The public should be made aware of the dangers of antibiotic misuse so that they can take appropriate action to protect themselves.