Health
Scientists from George Washington University in the United States conducted a study to observe 12 million bacteria, and found that E. coli is resistant to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, which is most often prescribed for urinary tract infections, increased fivefold from 2000 to 2010. In addition, almost one in four bacteria isolated in 2010 was resistant to another commonly used combination antibacterial drug, co-trimoxazole.
This study is of great importance, as it shows that E. coli's resistance to two common drugs for urinary tract infections has increased significantly over the past decade. For patients, this means that they will need more complex and expensive treatments. However, it is worrying that the development of new antibiotics has declined.
Intestinal infection causes 75 to 95 percent of urinary tract infections, and urinary infections, in turn, are among the most common diseases in humans. However, half of all women suffered from urinary tract infections at least once in their lives.
Antibiotic resistance is an important factor in determining the success of treatment in people with urinary infections. E. coli resistance reduces the chances of recovery and increases the risk of re-infection. In addition, antibiotic resistance significantly increases the risk of mortality, the cost of treatment, and the frequency of hospitalization.
If antibiotic resistance continues to increase, leftover drugs can significantly increase the risk of undesirable side effects, such as gastrointestinal disorders, nausea, and vomiting. Due to the lack of drug development, the shortage of new antimicrobials for common infections, such as urinary tract infections, will continue to worsen.
The study states that ciprofloxacin and co-trimoxazole are no longer a safe alternative for treating urinary tract infections. Currently, safer treatments for patients with urinary tract infection without kidney failure are nitrofurantoin (Furadonin), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and third-generation cephalosporins.
Why don't antibiotics help and what is bacterial resistance?