By Dr Sailajamma
As a medical doctor with over 37 years of experience treating infections of various nature, I have seen antibiotics work wonders—turning life-threatening infections into manageable conditions. These drugs are among the greatest achievements of modern medicine, but they are also delicate tools. When used correctly, they save lives. When misused, they can turn hazardous to health, can even invite medical crisis. Here in this article I, as a medical doctor, want to enlighten why antibiotics must be used judiciously, how to use them correctly, and the serious consequences of careless or uncontrolled use.
What Are Antibiotics and How Do They Work?
Antibiotics are medicines designed to fight bacterial infections. They fall into two main categories:
- Bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria outright (examples include penicillins and cephalosporins).
- Bacteriostatic antibiotics stop bacteria from multiplying, allowing the body’s immune system to clear the infection (examples include tetracyclines and macrolides).
Not every illness needs an antibiotic. Viruses—such as those causing the common cold, most sore throats, influenza, and many cases of bronchitis—do not respond to antibiotics. Using them in these situations is not just ineffective; it is harmful.
The Right Way to Use Antibiotics
Correct use is simple but non-negotiable:
- Take them only when prescribed for a confirmed or strongly suspected bacterial infection.
- Complete the full course, even if you feel better earlier.
- Take the exact dose at the correct intervals prescribed.
- Never share antibiotics or use leftover medicines from previous treatments.
An adequate dose and proper duration ensure the drug reaches high enough levels in the body to eliminate the infection completely. This maximizes effectiveness, prevents bacteria from surviving and developing resistance, and minimizes side effects and toxicity.
Using lower doses or stopping early allows some bacteria to survive. These survivors can multiply and pass on genetic changes that make them resistant, turning a treatable infection into a dangerous one.
The Danger of Antibiotic Resistance
When bacteria become resistant to multiple groups of antibiotics (usually three or more), we call them multi-drug resistant (MDR) organisms. Common examples include MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and resistant strains of E. coli, tuberculosis, and gonorrhea.
Antibiotic resistance is not a future threat—it is happening now. The World Health Organization describes it as one of the top global public health threats. Misuse and overuse drive this crisis in several ways:
- Inadequate dosing or incomplete courses by patients.
- Over-the-counter purchase and self-medication, common in many countries, leading to improper use.
- Pressure on doctors: Many patients believe a “good doctor” must prescribe medicine for every visit. To satisfy expectations, some doctors prescribe antibiotics unnecessarily.
- Widespread use in agriculture, livestock, and aquaculture, where antibiotics promote growth or prevent disease in animals, contributing massively to resistance.
Globally, approximately 30% of antibiotic prescriptions for humans and up to 80% of all antibiotics sold (including veterinary use) are unnecessary or inappropriate.
The consequences are severe:
- Infections that were once easily treated now require stronger, more expensive, and more toxic drugs—or no effective drugs at all.
- Higher mortality and morbidity: Resistant infections kill over 1 million people annually worldwide.
- Increased healthcare costs: Longer hospital stays, intensive care, and advanced treatments burden health systems.
- Social inequality: Low-income families suffer most, as prolonged illness and high treatment costs push vulnerable populations deeper into poverty.
What Can We Do?
As patients:
- Trust your doctor’s judgment. If an antibiotic is not prescribed, it is because it is not needed or could cause harm.
- Never demand antibiotics.
- Do not buy them without prescription.
- Complete the full course if one is prescribed.
As doctors and healthcare providers:
- We must resist pressure and prescribe only when evidence supports it.
- Educate patients clearly about why an antibiotic is or is not needed.
- Use diagnostic tests when possible to confirm bacterial infection.
As a society:
- Regulate antibiotic use in agriculture and aquaculture.
- Improve infection prevention through vaccination, hygiene, and sanitation.
- Support global efforts to develop new antibiotics.
Antibiotics are a shared resource. Every unnecessary prescription or incomplete course weakens this resource for everyone—including your children and grandchildren. By using them wisely, we protect their power for the generations to come.
If you have symptoms of infection, consult your doctor. Let evidence guide treatment, not expectation. Together, we can preserve these lifesaving medicines and prevent a return to the pre-antibiotic era when common infections were often fatal.