What are the risks of overusing antibiotics?

Overusing antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread.

Antibiotics are powerful medicines that fight bacterial infections. However, their overuse can lead to a serious global health problem known as antibiotic resistance. This occurs when bacteria change in response to the use of these medicines, becoming 'resistant' and continuing to grow, rendering the antibiotics ineffective.

The process of resistance begins when an antibiotic is used too often or not used correctly. Bacteria are naturally very adaptable. When exposed to an antibiotic, most bacteria die but some may survive due to a random mutation that makes them resistant. These resistant bacteria then multiply, creating a new population of resistant bacteria. This is an example of natural selection, a key concept in biology.

Over time, if antibiotics are overused, the number of resistant bacteria can increase. This can lead to infections that were once easily treatable with antibiotics becoming untreatable. This is particularly concerning for serious infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis and gonorrhoea.

Moreover, the overuse of antibiotics can also harm the beneficial bacteria in our bodies. Our bodies host a vast number of bacteria, many of which are beneficial and help us digest food, produce vitamins, and protect against harmful bacteria. When antibiotics are used, they can kill these beneficial bacteria along with the harmful ones, disrupting the balance of our microbiome and potentially leading to other health problems.

In addition, the overuse of antibiotics in agriculture, particularly in livestock, is a significant contributor to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics are often used in farming to promote growth and prevent disease in healthy animals. This can lead to resistant bacteria in animals, which can then be transferred to humans through the food chain.

In conclusion, the overuse of antibiotics poses a significant risk to global health. It is crucial to use antibiotics responsibly to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance.