Why is it in news?

A study suggests that developing alternatives to antibiotics for small infections could prevent bacteria from developing drug resistance and help humans win the battle against superbugs.

Problems of improper usage of antibiotics

• Due to excessive use of antibiotics, the target bacteria evolves and develops resistance to the antibiotic, rendering the existing drugs useless, thus, creating an urgent need for newer medicines (as the older ones become ineffective) and creating a shortage for patients who need
• Doctors often quickly prescribe regular dosage drugs even for mild infections, resulting in over dosage and increasing the chances of bacterial resistance in the person’s body.
• Multiple Drug Resistant (MDR) bacteria (also known as superbugs) are a growing chronic problem in India and the world.
• Antibiotic prescriptions against those smaller ailments account for about 90% of antibiotic use, and so are likely to be the major driver of resistance evolution.
• Bacteria that survive these many small battles against antibiotics grow in strength and numbers to become formidable armies in big infections.
• A broad-spectrum  anti-biotic can kill off more of the vulnerable, less dangerous bacteria, leaving the more dangerous bacteria to propagate.
• Often, superbugs have made their way into hospitals, affecting the most vulnerable patients with weak immune systems and have further evolved in them, thus further magnifying the problem.
• Therefore, researchers are looking for non antibiotic therapies and treatments for minor infections like strep throat, bladder infections, bronchiotis etc. Also, developing such theories for these infections could prove easier, thus, encouraging further pharmaceutical research.

Source: The Hindu