At superbugs or multiresistant bacteria are the bacteria that have resistance to several antibiotics, a fact that makes the treatment of infections caused by them difficult. These bacteria have become increasingly common in hospital settings, however, they are also found in the community. Therefore, superbugs are one of the main world health problems nowadays.
Read too:Antibiotics: types, how they act and how they came about
→ Superbacteria and evolution
The emergence of superbugs can be explained by Natural Selection Theoryin the evolution of species, of Charles Darwin. According to theory, bacteria from the same population have some differences that allow some individuals to be more adapted that environment, thus, these individuals can make better use of the resources of that place, which offers greater possibilities of survival and reproduction of these bacteria. The emergence of this variability usually occurs by mutations.
Regarding superbugs, some factors they can help the “best fit” to survive. An example is the
misuse of antibiotics, like stop your administration as soon as the symptoms of the infection improve. If the patient stops administering the drug before the period stipulated by the physician, the bacteria less resistant to that antibiotic may have died, however, may still be present. bacteria with features resistant to it.Thus, with the end of drug administration, these bacteria continue to reproduce, originating a population of resistant bacteria. These bacteria can give rise to a new infection, but this time, more difficult to be treated, often requiring a different antibiotic, more potent, or even combined to eliminate these new bacteria.
Read too:What is evolution?
→ Factors influencing the emergence of superbugs
Some factors can contribute to the emergence of superbugs, among them, we can highlight:
Self-medication;
Using antibiotics to treat illnesses that are not bacterial infections;
Use of antibiotics that are not indicated for the type of bacteria causing the infection;
Use of the drug for a longer or shorter period than recommended by the doctor;
Inappropriate use of antibiotics in the veterinary field;
Ineffectiveness in infection control in health services, among others.
The presence of superbugs in hospital environments has been the cause of the high prevalence of deaths from hospital infections.
→ How to prevent the development and spread of superbugs?
To prevent the emergence of superbugs, World Health Organization launched Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. In this plan, it contains recommendations for different sectors of society to work together in prevention. Below, we will mention some of these measures, as well as ways to avoid contagion by superbugs.
To the patients, highlights the importance of not self-medicating and use the antibiotic following medical guidelines both for the dosage, treatment time, and for its conservation; basic measures of hygiene, like hand washing, prevent both contamination and transmission of bacteria; keep the vaccines in days, among others.
for the Health professionals, it is essential that they seek to carry out the diagnosis more adequately so that the prescription of the drug occurs correctly; keep a care of hygiene personnel and also with instruments and workplace; guide patients on the correct use of antibiotics, importance of hygiene measures and vaccination; rreport the cases bacterial resistance to the hospital infection control committee, among others.
Read too: Diseases caused by bacteria
→ Superbacteria: symptoms and treatment
You symptoms of infections caused by superbugs will vary depending on the type of bacteria causing the infection. O treatment should be performed in a hospital environment and with the use of antibiotics, however, the difficulty of treatment lies in looking for an antibiotic to which the bacteria causing the infection are not resistant. In some cases, there may be no treatment.
Read too:Discovery of penicillin
Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the main causes of blood infections in patients hospitalized in Intensive Care Units.
→ Superbacteria in Brazil
The emergence of cases of Bacterial resistance in hospitals. It is believed that this is mainly linked to the inappropriate use of antibiotics. The presence of superbugs in hospital environments has been the cause of the high prevalence of deaths from hospital infections.
Among the superbugs found in Brazil, we can highlight the Klebsiella pneumoniae (KCP). This bacterium is one of the main causes of blood infections in patients hospitalized in Intensive Care Units (ICU). This bacterium produces an enzyme called carbapenemaze, which inhibits the action of very effective antibiotics, thus reducing the therapeutic options for the infection caused by them.
It is essential that health professionals be aware of the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in the hospital environment, in addition to hygiene measures so that this type of infection does not occur more. THE Anvisa in 2017, it launched the National Plan for the Prevention and Control of Microbial Resistance in Health Services with the aim of contributing to the rational use of antibiotics.
It is important to highlight here that Brazil has legislation and regulations to control the use of antibiotics. Thus, it is important to emphasize: a sale of antibiotics without a prescription is prohibited in Brazil.
