| Description |
Since health professionals began using antibiotics to treat infections over 50 years ago, bacteria have developed at least some degree of resistance to those antibiotics. Because antimicrobial resistance leads to use of more powerful, more costly antibiotics, it greatly increases the cost of antibiotics and makes the effective treatment of infections increasingly more difficult. Despite the ebbs and tides of urgency about antimicrobial resistance, resistance remains an important current issue. Indiscriminiate antibiotic use continues to foster bacterial resistance. For over a decade, many resistance experts have advocated judicious antibiotic use and more conservative antibiotic marketing. Alliances of these experts, with other already-established health organizations, are working to manage antimicrobial resistance. Resistance to antibiotics can best be managed when health professionals work cooperatively and monitor resistance closely. Continuing education for these professionals should focus regularly on the problem of antimicrobial resistance so as to increase professional awareness about resistance. Pharmaceutical companies and governmental agencies should limit their involvement in coping with the problem because the resources to manage resistance are already available. All health professionals, as well as the health care facility, can play important cooperating roles in managing antimicrobial resistance. Specifically, the physician may choose the proper antibiotic therapy and verify that the patient responds to therapy. An infectious disease specialist may insure that the prescribing physician's antibiotic therapy is most cost-effective, assure the best patient outcome, and best control resistance. Finally, the pharmacist may evaluate antibiotic therapy chosen by the physician and monitor the patient during treatment. (S)he may also insure that therapy duration does not promote antimicrobial resistance. Working as a team, health professionals can assure that antibiotics will effectively continue to treat patient infections and improve their quality of life. |
