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September 22, 2003 "Superbugs" are a new health threat; you can help stop their spread This guest opinion is by Mel Kohn, M.D., state epidemiologist in the Oregon Department of Human Services. For a photograph of Dr. Kohn, call Bonnie Widerburg at (503) 731-4180 or e-mail bonnie.l.widerburg@state.or.us Length: 520 words By Mel Kohn, M.D. Earlier this month, my wife and I experienced the anxiety and fear that most parents never want to go through. Our eight year-old daughter was taken by ambulance to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy. Like most parents in this situation, we were grateful for the great skill and care of the doctors and nurses who helped our daughter. And, we were thankful that the bacteria causing my daughter’s illness weren’t antibiotic-resistant "superbugs." Antibiotic resistant bacteria have been dubbed "superbugs" because they are extremely hard to treat. They call for longer treatments with stronger, more expensive and potentially more dangerous medications. These bacterial infections require extended hospitalization and can cause disability or even death. Overuse of antibiotics is the primary way that superbugs get created. As antibiotics kill susceptible bacteria, this leaves more room and nutrients for powerful, resistant bacteria to grow. They multiply and soon take over. While this may sound like science fiction, the unfortunate truth is that superbugs are already here. A 2001 study of illnesses in the Portland area found that 20 percent of infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, the leading cause of meningitis, pneumonia and ear infections, were resistant to penicillin. And here’s another truth: only 24 percent of Oregonians know about the danger of antibiotic resistance, according to a recent telephone survey conducted by the Oregon Department of Human Services. What can we do to stop the spread of superbugs? Health care providers are half the answer. Several years ago, public health officials began an effort to discourage health practitioners from prescribing antibiotics for coughs, colds and flu. Working with local infectious disease experts, we developed guidelines for the "judicious use" of antibiotics and sent them to Oregon physicians. We’ve given more than 50 lectures about the problem to medical groups around the state. But the other half of the answer lies with you. Many healthcare practitioners admit they sometimes prescribe unnecessary doses of antibiotics because they feel pressured to do so by patients who expect or even demand a prescription. Here’s how you can do something to help solve this problem, particularly now that winter cold and flu season will soon be upon us. •Antibiotics may seem innocuous, but don’t insist on them for viral infections like colds or flu. They have no effect against viruses and can cause serious side effects. •Take prescribed antibiotics for the full course of treatment; inadequate treatment also contributes to the development of superbugs. •Use antibiotics only under a doctor’s care. •Finally, don’t share antibiotics or use leftover antibiotics to treat an illness. This month the Centers for Disease Control launched its national "Get Smart About Antibiotics" campaign. Oregon’s antibiotic resistance coalition, AWARE, already has educational efforts under way, so you’ll hear about this issue again. Fifty years ago, before the advent of most of the antibiotics we have today, my daughter might well have died from her infection. I’m glad that we live in a time where we have effective weapons to fight bacterial disease. Let’s all help to keep it that way. More information about antibiotics and Oregon AWARE is on the Web. Mel Kohn, M.D., M.P.H., is state epidemiologist in the Oregon Department of Human Services. He’s also a pediatrician and the father of two. |
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