Antibiotic Resistant Microbes, the Longer and More Expensive Treatment

Antibiotics are one important way to overcome disease infection. But now so many infection-causing microbes are resistant (immune) to antibiotics, such as tuberculosis (TB), influenza, HIV and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), consequently the longer and expensive treatment.

Every time a person uses antibiotics, there will be a selective pressure, namely the sensitive microbes will die, but the microbes that are resistant will grow and multiply.

"The occurrence of resistance and the spread of infection can decrease the quality of health services, because the use of antibiotics become ineffective, can even decrease the safety for patients and increase health care costs," said Dr Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih, MPH, DR. PH, the Health Minister, in his speech opening the symposium '6 th National Symposium of Indonesia Antimicrobials Resistance Watch (IARW-PAMKI) at the Hotel Gran Melia, Jakarta, Saturday (07/03/2010).

The health minister said there are various factors that can trigger the occurrence of antibiotic resistance, namely:

1. Inappropriateness of the treatment of patients, such as incorrect use of antibiotics (less or excess) due to error or delay in diagnosis, so in order to disrupt the power-essential drugs.
2. The use of antibiotics and repeated inappropriate or irrational.
3. Non-compliance of patients in treatment, use of antibiotics by the public without prescription and circulation of fake antibiotics.

Today, there are many microbes that have been resistant to first-line antibiotics commonly prescribed. This can endanger patients undergoing general infections, which previously could easily be cured with antibiotics such.

As a result

1. Prolonged treatment of infectious diseases
2. Patients not cured
3. Fatal complication
4. Treatment time increases
5. Not infrequently required the use of second-or third-line antibiotics are more expensive, sometimes more toxic (poisonous) and result in increased treatment costs

The two things that can lead to the emergence of the threat of antibiotic resistance is due to limited dissemination of knowledge and information about rational use of antibiotic drugs.

To prevent and menganggulagi development of antibiotic resistance, the proper way is to press as far as possible the use of antibiotics that are not rational.

In addition, according to Minister of Health, so that prevention and control of antibiotic resistance can be run continuously, then:

1. Need to develop surveillance (monitoring the distribution of disease) antibiotic resistance. Each hospital is expected to conduct continuous surveillance of antibiotic resistance, so the quality of antibiotic use can be guaranteed.
2. Supervision of import, production and use of antibiotics also needs special attention.
3. Socialization to the public about the rational use of antibiotics should also be improved.