Alarming Rise In Clostridium Infections Due To Indiscriminate Use Of Antibiotics

Clostridium difficile is one of the many bacteria which are normally found in our gut. But under the influence of strong antibiotics, it tends to overgrow as the antibiotics wipe out the bacteria which normally compete with it for survival. When C. difficile grows unchecked, it may produce dangerous toxins which may lead to intractable diarrhea. The condition can soon turn deadly and is associated with a high mortality rate.

If the use of antibiotics, whose indiscriminate use is associated with Clostridium difficile infection, is reduced by 30%, the deadly infection caused by this bacterium can be lowered by a whopping 26%.

There is an urgent need to improve antibiotic prescription policies followed by various hospitals

The CDCs have recommended that hospitals should improve upon their existing antibiotic prescription policies. In order to prevent drug resistance, following steps should be taken:

• The physicians should be educated about drug resistance and be advised to evaluate the disease completely before prescribing any antibiotic.
• The antibiotics should be prescribed for an optimal period.
• The choice of antibiotic is of extreme importance.
• Strong antibiotics should be reserved only for dealing with very serious infections.
• Only the minimal number of antibiotics required to cover a disease, should be prescribed.
• Patients should also be advised that antibiotics are not required in all cases. They should be told that antibiotics do not have any role to play in case of viral infections.
• The importance of completing the entire course of the antibiotic which has been prescribed to the patients and not leave the course midway after improvement in symptoms of the disease should be stressed upon the patients by their treating physicians. Leaving the antibiotic course midway may leave back some bacteria which may become more resistant.
• All steps should be taken to ensure good hygiene in the hospital so that the use of antibiotics is minimized. Caretakers should be taught to wash their hands before and after they touch a patient so that they do not carry disease organisms from one patient to another.
• The CDCs also advise the physicians to reassess their patients 48 hours after they have been put on some antibiotic. This would help them in deciding whether the type of antibiotic, its dosage and its duration for prescription is appropriate or some change is needed.

Antibiotic resistance is the biggest headache for most physicians. It can lead to illness that lasts longer making it difficult to treat, extending the patient’s stay in the hospital and increased medical expenditure. 

See Also: Persistent Bacterial Infections And Resistance To Antibiotics

Following the above mentioned steps would go a long way in reducing the development of antibiotic resistance in disease causing organisms. Controlling antibiotic resistance would not only help current patients but would also help preserve the usefulness of presently available antibiotics for future patients. Researchers have opined that big hospitals can save up between $200,000 and $900,000 annually by adopting these simple measures. According to the CDCs, implanting a proper antibiotic prescribing policy in the hospitals can reduce the rate of C. difficile infection by almost 50% in a 5 year period.