Careful with Antibiotics

Dr. Danijela Stanišić-Srdić, from Hemofarm, advises:

Take antibiotics only when necessary and never ‘on your own’. Irrational use of antibiotics endangers the health of individuals and the entire population, because it contributes to the development of bacterial resistance to existing antibiotics’, Dr. Stanišić-Srdić emphasizes.

A survey on the future of health conducted by Stada Group has shown that as many as one third of Europeans are under the misconception that antibiotics are effective against viruses. Such insights have confirmed to us that it is necessary to talk about antibiotics more and often.

According to the warning of the World Health Organization, as many as 10 million people could die every year from diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the next three decades. It is more than the number of patients who die of cancer every year, and even 10 times more than the annual number of people killed in traffic accidents. We talked about this topic with Dr. Danijela Stanišić - Srdić, Rx Portfolio Manager in Hemofarm, who reveals to us why patients are increasingly developing an antibiotic resistance.

’Presently, we have a worrying situation in which certain bacteria have evolved into so-called multi-resistant forms with a high level of resistance to antibiotics recommended for the treatment of infections caused by them. They are not, as it is often heard, new ’superbacteria’. They are old, well-known bacteria, which have begun developing resistance to existing antibiotics. Irrational use of antibiotics has greatly contributed to such resistance. In order to prevent it, we have to use the existing resources of such medicinal products more rationally’, Stanišić-Srdić says.

Serbia establishes control

Serbia was an infamous record holder in excessive use of antibiotics in Europe for a full decade, up until 2015. Stricter controls in dispensing of medicinal products, education of doctors and the campaign of the Ministry of Health on raising awareness about the rational use of antibiotics have reduced the improper use of antibiotics by a third of the previous use thereof. In the meantime, Serbia has obtained also the ‘National Guide for Rational Use of Antibiotics’, which precisely defines each step in the treatment of bacterial infection with the aim of rational use of antibacterial agents.

’Rational use implies the administration of an appropriate antibiotic in a corresponding dosage, in a complying method of administration, and in a precisely prescribed time period. Otherwise, we risk not having the expected outcome of therapy and directly contributing to bacterial resistance through inadequate treatment. Some of the more important factors contributing to the development of bacterial resistance are prescribing antibiotics for nonbacterial infections, use for prophylactic purposes longer than necessary, and non-compliance with the recommendations of relevant guides for the rational use of antibiotics. The Guide provides clear recommendations indicating when the problem can be solved with some of the older generation antibiotics, and when it is necessary to include a newer medicinal product, the so-called ’back-up antibiotic’, Stanišić-Srdić points out.

It is recommended that ‘back-up antibiotics’ should be administered as the last option, as newer medicinal products are thereby reserved for more serious infections.

’The guide has reminded us of the importance and strength of older-generation antibiotics, which have not been widely used for some time, so bacterial resistance to them is low and their efficacy is high’ - Stanišić-Srdić further explains.

Observing the advice of pharmacists and doctors is responsibility of every patient

Tendency of people to treat themselves and take antibiotics at their own discretion is a big problem in Serbia. The interlocutor from Hemofarm indicates that such non-complying treatment brings along the potential for serious risks.

’When prescribing antibiotics, the doctor takes into account the age of a patient, renal and hepatic function, whether the patient has used antibiotics recently or is currently taking any medicinal products, information on allergies, etc. Due to all the aforestated facts, it is clear that antibiotics are medicinal products that should never be taken without consulting a doctor or pharmacist. Inadequate antibiotic, or improper dosage, can cause numerous side effects such as diarrhea, rash, vomiting, allergic reactions, vaginal candidiasis, renal impairment, hepatic impairment, impaired bone marrow, nerves, vision, cardiac arrhythmias, etc., - Stanišić-Srdić says.

Whenever possible, an antibiotic should be administered in a targeted manner, based on antibiogram, because in that case the results of treatment are best.

’However, often due to urgent conditions, an antibiotic must be used immediately. It is the so called empirical therapy. In such situation, doctor’s knowledge and experience are very important. Use of antibiotics for prophylaxis is most common in immunocompromised patients, and in patients who are about to undergo particular surgical interventions. The prophylactic use of antibiotics must be short-term and targeted against known or expected bacterial agents. Any non-complying or excessive use of antibiotics bears multiple hazards both for the patient and as for the public health. Therefore, their indicated use must be strictly followed –Stanišić-Srdić says.

Hemofarm recommends: Take Probiotic Forte with an antibiotic

Antibiotics disturb natural intestinal balance because they destroy both bad and good probiotic bacteria, making no difference between them. It reduces general resistance of the body so every third patient gets an antibiotic-induced diarrhea.

The risk from diarrhea is higher in the treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics, frequently repeated and combined antibiotic treatments. The most sensitive groups of patients are children under the age of 7 and the elderly above 65 years of age.

The only way to prevent imbalance of intestinal flora caused by taking antibiotics is to take additional quantities of probiotic bacteria. Therefore, always take Probiotik Forte when taking an antibiotic.