Summary
According to Nisbet (2016) s uperbugs refer to bacteria that are resistant to antibiotic treatment. They remain some of the most common infections without any kind of treatment. One such superbug is the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Sharifi-Rad (2016) contends that t he bacterium is non-responsive to the methicillin antibiotic and any related antibiotic. Other factors such as mishandling food, poor preventions, and infection control measures, and living in unsanitary conditions may result in the emergence and quick spread of the antibiotic-resistant organism ( Munguia & Nizet 2017) . The bacteria often results in dangerous brain, lung, and urinary tract complications. Other common infections include severe pneumonia, cyanosis, high fever, sepsis, and hypotension among other body infections often difficult to treat. The main cause of superbugs is the misuse and overuse of antibiotics and is not a human creation. The topic interests me since it addresses and raises an important aspect of health that is often ignored by many but has significant impact on patients and the society at large.
Introduction
Nizet (2015) affirmed that i n countries such as China, patients are often exposed to over the counter drugs consumed without strict adherence to physician’s directive. Other social and health aspects increasing emergence of superbugs include weak health care systems, lack of clean drinking water, dense urbanization, and poor sanitation. Munguia and Nizet (2017) affirmed that individuals have increased their consumption of antibiotics by over 65 percent within ten years. The phenomenon is largely driven by developing countries such as India, China, and Turkey. Without proper measures of using different treatment methods, superbugs are bound to increase partly due to their rapid growth rate and increased opportunistic bacteria increasing resistance. As more people use antibiotics, the rate of resistance increases too. Munguia and Nizet (2017) argued that other factors some within human grasp such as ease of travel increased urbanization; rapid population growth and the use of anti-biotic in animals which has increased the rapid rate of superbugs. Consequently, superbugs result from numerous factors and not necessarily a human creation. Although the factors are often human activities, a large number of emergence of the resistance bacteria occur due to mishandling and misuse.
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Importance of the Topic
Health is an important aspect of life and often good living is dictated on by healthy living and proper treatment in accordance with medical prescription. Numerous research points to multiple complications in the health sector with several diseases and complications lacking proper treatment. The superbug topic is critical in offering an insight into some of the most troubling and deadly health complication afflicting patients. Due to relevance of healthy living in the modern day society, issues pertaining to health are no doubt critical as they open up avenues to critical analysis and understanding of health concerns afflicting the society.
It is thus important to understand how superbugs emerge to offer better insight into how they affect human and animal health. According to Nizet (2015) s uperbugs carry genes that give them ability to survive even in the presence of strong antibiotics. Velkov, Zhu, Haddleton, and Li (2017) indicated that these genes can be passed from one bacterium to another thus increasing number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Due to their formation complexity brought forth by biological and chemical compositions, these bacteria are gradually taking on new compositions and structures that are threatening efforts to their eradiation. As self-forming organisms, these bacteria are capable of surviving in hostile and difficult drug conditions further threatening patients’ lives.
Relevant Examples
Nizet (2015) argued that t hey tend to have a life of their own due to their genetic makeup that has the capability to transfer itself from one bacterium to another. Some typical examples of superbugs include Mycobacterium tuberculosis, MRSA, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, pseudomonas, streptococcus, and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococus among others. These are self-forming bacteria that result from genetic mutation or reformation.
Advances in the Area
Genetic engineering is currently playing a major role in helping curb continued reproduction of superbugs. Research points to attempts by scientists to understand and come to terms with the resulting effect of causal factors in emergence superbugs. Genetic engineering products tend to have common characteristics familiar to their parent genetic sources. However, with superbugs such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, no such implication is currently available within the genetic makeup of the superbugs thus excluding the idea that they are human creations. However, ongoing research point to a breakthrough to understand and address the rapid emergence of specific group for superbugs that include Vancomycin-resistant Enterococus and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Solution
To help curb the spread of superbugs, patients, medical practitioners, and drug production companies need to establish common standards of drug prescription and use. Patients should be encouraged to use medications prescribed by a physician only. At the same time, use of clean water should be encouraged, the patient’s need to finish their full treatment. Patients should not share drugs under any circumstance. Other preventive measures to reducing the rapid emergence of superbugs include; keeping good hygiene, following doctor’s instructions, and understanding when and how antibiotics should be used.
Superbugs is an interesting research topic in offering a significant topic in the emergence of new life-threatening diseases. With the rapid rise in the number of deaths linked to superbugs, it is important to identify and help society in addition to those suffering from the same to find a lasting medication that restores their health. Superbugs are real and lead to immense suffering among those affected. At the same time, many patients are often oblivious of taking medication lacking a physician’s prescription. Thus, learning and coming to terms with superbugs is critical to enhancing future research, innovation and awareness creation on their emergence, impact, and reality.
References
Munguia, J., & Nizet, V. (2017). Pharmacological targeting of the host–pathogen interaction: alternatives to classical antibiotics to combat drug-resistant superbugs. Trends in pharmacological sciences , 38 (5), 473-488.
Nisbet, M. (2016). The Superbug Crisis: False Beliefs about Antibiotics Are a Global Threat. Skeptical Inquirer .
Nizet, V. (2015). Stopping superbugs, maintaining the microbiota.
Sharifi-Rad, J. (2016). Herbal Antibiotics: Moving back into the mainstream as an alternative for" Superbugs". Cellular and Molecular Biology , 62 (9), 1-2.
Velkov, T., Zhu, C., Haddleton, D. M., & Li, J. (2017). Novel Antimicrobial Peptides: Targeting Wound Infections Caused by ‘Superbugs’ Resistant to All Current Antibiotics.
