Ever since old Al Fleming discovered penicillin wrecking his bacteria-growing experiment in a Petri dish back in the 1920s, antibiotics have taken the world by storm. It suddenly seemed as if scientists had found The Answer - they had found a way to beat all diseases and save millions of lives. Previously fatal bacterial diseases such as meningitis, pneumonia, typhoid, scarlet fever and even leprosy (with the newest types of antibiotics, the fluoro-quinolones) could be combated. When used in combination with vaccination, it looked like we'd never get sick again.
Unfortunately, no. There's no denying that antibiotics have saved millions of lives around the world and society as a whole is much better off for using antibiotics. We've all had relatives who have been saved by a course of antibiotics, or we've had to take them ourselves (this writer had a bout of pneumonia as a child and was saved from brain damage (although some folk may debate that once they get to know me better) by antibiotics and paracetamol combined). And you can see the real difference antibiotics make when they're introduced into communities in the developing world. But they aren't a cure-all. Disease is still with us.
The quest for finding new antibiotics is still in place, sending lots of scientists out grubbing around in the dirt and performing highly technical DNA analyses on likely-looking bits of mud or mould. This is because bacteria have a tendency to develop a resistance to a certain antibiotic, which means that the doctor has to dish out a different antibiotic... but then the bacteria become resistant to that next antibiotic, and so forth. Are bacteria getting stronger and stronger via the process of antibiotic-stimulated natural selection? Is survival of the fittest working to breed new superbugs? Occasionally, you do come across the odd headline like this, striking fear into the hearts of many. But this isn't the case. These antibiotic-resistant bacteria are usually wimpy things that only manage to flourish because the tougher competition (the other bacteria) has been taken out. These "superbugs" aren't particularly new 'they've always been there in the bacterial gene pool - but the antibiotics just give them a chance to shine.
Reasonably recently, doctors had a tendency to dish out the antibiotics for everything. This has given the resistant bacteria a fighting chance to flourish and reproduce at an alarming rate. And the stupid thing is that antibiotics do no good at all for viruses, so all those folk who asked for antibiotics to help them with the flu or a cold were contributing to the problem of antibiotic resistance but weren't treating their sickness at all. (Secondary infections such as earache are a different story - these often do need a bit of antibiotics to clear them up. Living with a baby who is screaming with pain because of an ear infection is enough to break down your resistance to antibiotics.) The best way to remove the resistant bacteria from your system if they've been picked up is to get a bit grubby. This advice is even given by doctors from time to time. Go and dig in the garden and get your hands muddy. Roll in the grass. Have a mud fight. Muck out a stable or wash the dog. This reintroduces the tougher but non-resistant bacteria (which won't hurt you as long as you use common sense and wash your hands afterwards, don't let the dog lick your face and cover any open wounds with a bandage). These tougher bacteria will soon crowd out the resistant ones. And the mud in your garden may contain some hitherto undiscovered antibiotic fungus - you never know.
Antibiotics, whether you are exposed to resistant bacteria or not, have the annoying and really, really irritating habit of getting rid of all bacteria in your system, including the good ones. This often leaves you with itchy skin and possibly a bout of candida, if you're a woman. In this case, consuming large quantities of live yoghurt is your best bet.
On the whole, one should avoid taking antibiotics unless they're really necessary. This not only helps to prevent the spread of the resistant bacteria (allowing the existing antibiotics to maintain their effectiveness) but it is also better for you. And what do you do if you get a minor illness? Go for the natural remedies. They often work and often contain naturally occurring antibiotics that are gentler on your system and don't seem to get the same resistance problems, at least as far as this writer is aware. Garlic is a tried and tested remedy (it got the nickname "Russian penicillin" during WWII) that is widely known and readily available, and that also boosts your natural immunity as well as being antibiotic.
Author Resource:-
Nick Vassilev is the founder of Anyclean, a successful cleaning company based in London, UK. His extensive knowledge about the cleaning industry helps him provide excellent cleaning services London and increased value for money to his clients.
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