The Evolution of Antibiotic and Antimicrobial Usage- Historical Changes, Consequences of Misuse, and Preventative Strategies

The Evolution of Antibiotic and Antimicrobial Usage- Historical Changes, Consequences of Misuse, and Preventative Strategies

Antimicrobials

The advent of antibiotics in antibacterial therapy has been one of the most significant scientific wonders in medical history. Their use is attributable to their selective toxicity on the bacteria while producing no damage to the host cells. Insight into the development of effective antibiotics began after the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928. Sulphonamides were the first class of antibiotics introduced for clinical use in 1937. However, the therapeutic use of sulphonamides was plagued by the emergence of sulphonamide-resistant strains of bacteria (Tanaka et al., 2016). The first resistance strain was identified in the late 1930s, not long after its discovery. Over 80 years into the antibiotic era, various antibacterial agents have been developed that maintain high effectiveness in antibacterial therapy. These agents have specific targets on the organisms and may either kill them or stall their multiplication and growth. Examples of antibiotic classes currently in clinical use include beta-lactams, glycopeptides, macrolides, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, lincosamides, streptogramins, and sulphonamides, among others. Our assignment writing services will allow you to attend to more important tasks as our experts handle your task.

Bacterial infections have been implicated in significant morbidity and mortality. If not treated correctly, the implicated bacteria may resist the antibiotic. The emerging drug-resistant bacteria will further cause morbidity in the general population (Mobarki et al., 2019). Untreated bacterial infections often lead to complications of the underlying pathology, consequently enhancing the complexity of therapeutic management of the infection, morbidity, and mortality.

Antibiotics have been used prophylactically in several clinical cases. Cotrimoxazole is being used prophylactically in HIV/AIDS to prevent Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Isoniazid is also being used in the prevention of tuberculosis in newly confirmed HIV patients. Surgical prophylaxis with broad-spectrum antibiotics is now a common standard of therapy for all patients undergoing surgical procedures to prevent infectious complications (Mark, 2016). Gentamicin, metronidazole, and vancomycin are common antibiotics that have been utilized for surgical prophylaxis.

References

Mark, A. (2016). What is antibiotic prophylaxis? The Journal Of The American Dental Association, 147(6), 526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2016.03.016

Mobarki, N., Almerabi, B., & Hattan, A. (2019). Antibiotic Resistance Crisis. International Journal Of Medicine In Developing Countries, 561-564. https://doi.org/10.24911/ijmdc.51-1549060699

Tanaka, M., Althouse, B., & Bergstrom, C. (2016). The timing of antimicrobial use influences the evolution of antimicrobial resistance during disease epidemics. Evolution, Medicine, And Public Health, 2014(1), 150-161. https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/

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Write an essay identifying the evolutionary change of antibiotic/antimicrobial usage toward the treatment of diseases throughout the history of medicine.

The Evolution of Antibiotic and Antimicrobial Usage- Historical Changes, Consequences of Misuse, and Preventative Strategies

Include the consequences of not treating a microbial infection correctly.

Recommend and provide examples of three recommended prevention methods that utilize antibiotics/antimicrobials.