Antibiotics: a double-edged sword for human health

Introduction

Antibiotics, a landmark invention in modern medicine, have had a profound impact on humans since its inception in the fight against infectious diseases. It is like a magical double-edged sword, which, while saving countless lives, poses many challenges as a result of abuse. In-depth knowledge of antibiotics is essential for the proper use of this powerful medical tool and the preservation of human health.

II. Development history and classification of antibiotics

(i) Development experience

The history of antibiotics dates back to the beginning of the twentieth century, when British bacterologist Fleming accidentally discovered that penicillin was inhibiting the fungus, a discovery that opened the door to the antibiotic era. Scientists then continued their efforts to develop a wide range of antibiotics. From the first natural antibiotics to the later chemically modified synthetic semi-synthetic antibiotics, the antibiotic family has grown, providing more options for the treatment of infectious diseases.

(ii) Classification

Antibiotics can be classified according to their chemical structure and functioning mechanisms. It is common for β-nimide, including penicillin and headbacterin, to act as antibacterial by inhibiting the synthesis of bacterial cell walls. Aminocin antibiotics, such as Quintaacin, cystalcin, etc., act on bacterial nuclei and interfere with protein synthesis. Great cycloester antibiotics, e.g. erythycin, achicin, also function in the protein synthesis process, but at a different level than carbamate. Tetracyclic antibiotics have some inhibition on the gebrane-positive bacteria and on the cyanobacteria, as well as effects on protein synthesis. In addition, there are various types of antibiotics, such as quinone and sulfamide, each of which has unique antibacterial and functional characteristics.

III. Mechanisms for the role of antibiotics

(i) Role of cell walls

Bacteria cell walls are essential to maintain the form and survival of bacteria. In the case of β-nimide antibiotics, they can be combined with the key enzymes in the synthesis of bacterial cytowalls, inhibiting the intersectional reaction between the peptide chain. As a result, there are defects in the synthesis of bacterial cell walls, which, in the course of bacteria ‘ growth and reproduction, expand and break as a result of ingestion of water and eventually die as a result of internal penetration pressure higher than in the outside environment.

(ii) Effects on cellular membranes

Some antibiotics can undermine the integrity of bacterial cellular membranes. Antibiotics of polymixin are able to interact with phosphorus in the membrane, increasing the penetration of the membrane. The membrane used to function as a selective barrier to control the exchange of materials within and outside the cell. When the membrane permeability changes, important materials within the cell, such as ion, amino acid, are lost in large quantities and bacteria are unable to properly metabolize, leading to death. Such a mechanism is important in the fight against gerang cactus.

(iii) Interference with protein synthesis

Protein synthesis is an essential part of the survival and reproduction of bacteria. There are many ways in which antibiotics can interfere in this process. Amino-cluceous antibiotics are combined on 30S substrates of bacterial nuclei, causing a misreading of the password, resulting in the synthesis of abnormal proteins and inhibiting the beginning of protein synthesis. Tetracyclic antibiotics prevent the combination of ammonium-tRNA with the nuclea 30S Archipelago, hindering the extension of the pelican chain. The Great Ringed Iester antibiotics functioned at 50S and inhibited the transfer of the pelican chain, which prevented the protein synthesis from proceeding smoothly.

(iv) Suppression of nucleic acid synthesis

Certain antibiotics act as antibiotics by inhibiting the synthesis of bacterial nucleic acids. The quinone antibiotic inhibits the bacteria’ DNA, the rotation enzymes and the amphibolase IV, both of which are essential for the adjustment of the bacteria’ DNA in the reproduction, trans-translation process, the DNA superhelicopter structure. When the activity of these enzymes is suppressed, the reproduction and transfer of bacteria’ DNA is blocked and bacteria cannot reproduce. Lifoping combines with the β-Aki of the bacteria RNA polymerase to inhibit the start of RNA synthesis, thus affecting genetic expression and protein synthesis.

IV. Hazards of antibiotics abuse

(i) Bacteria resistance

Antibiotic abuse is the main cause of the emergence and spread of bacterial resistance. When bacteria are exposed to inappropriate antibiotics, they evolve resistance mechanisms through a variety of pathways. Some bacteria can alter the structure of antibiotic action target points by genetic mutations, making antibiotics unidentifiable. For example, pneumococcus can be reduced by changing the structure of penicillin combined proteins and reducing the sensitivity to beta-nimide antibiotics. In addition, bacteria produce a variety of hydrolytic enzymes or decorative enzymes, such as beta-implamide, that can hydrolyse critical structures of beta-impamide antibiotics and render them inactive. The continued emergence and spread of drug-resistant bacteria has rendered ineffective the otherwise effective antibiotic treatment programmes, leading to significantly more difficult treatment for infectious diseases, higher medical costs and even the potential for “superbacterial” resistance to a variety of antibiotics, seriously threatening human health.

(ii) Damage to normal human population

Complex and normal strains exist in all parts of the human body, and they coexist with the human body and play an important role in maintaining human health. The long-term or unreasonable use of antibiotics can disrupt this population balance. For example, intestinal strains play a key role in digestion, immunolysis, etc. When antibiotics are used in large quantities, the beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract may be suppressed, while some drug-resistant or condition-induced bacteria may take advantage of the opportunity to reproduce in large quantities, leading to new infections, such as hard-to-feed infections, which can lead to severe diarrhoeal diseases, entericitis, etc. At the same time, this strain imbalance may also affect the immune system of the human body and make it more vulnerable to other pathogens.

(iii) Drug adverse effects

Antibiotics themselves can cause adverse reactions. Different types of antibiotics have different adverse reaction characteristics. Amino-sugar antibiotics may damage hearing and kidney functions, and their long-term use may lead to irreversible hearing loss and kidney damage. Clocin can cause regenerative obstructive anaemia, although it is relatively rare, but with serious consequences. In addition, some antibiotics may cause allergies, ranging from mild rashes to severe allergies, which endanger the life of patients.

Strategies for rational use of antibiotics

(i) Responsibilities of medical professionals

Accurate diagnosis and rational use of drugs

Doctors are required to make a full and accurate diagnosis before using antibiotics. This includes a detailed examination of the patient ‘ s medical history, symptoms, medical examinations and necessary laboratory examinations. For example, the presence and type of infection are judged by indicators such as blood protocol, C reaction protein, calcium reduction. In case of suspected bacterial infections, bacterial culture and sensitivity testing should be conducted as far as possible to select the most appropriate antibiotics on the basis of the results. Before the results are produced, the drug can be used experientially, but the antibacterial spectroscopy is selected to cover antibiotics that may be pathogenic and have less adverse effects.

2. Normative treatment programmes

Doctors are required to determine the appropriate antibiotics dose and course of treatment based on the patient ‘ s condition, age, weight, etc. Overdoses may not be effective in controlling infection and may induce bacterial resistance; overdoses increase the risk of adverse reactions. The treatment process also needs to be strictly controlled and should normally be continued for a period of time after the patient ‘ s symptoms have disappeared and the indicators for laboratory tests have returned to normal, in order to ensure the complete elimination of the pathogens, but also to avoid excessive use.

(ii) Public education and management

1. Raising public awareness

Proper public awareness of antibiotics is essential for rational use. Antibiotic knowledge needs to be made available to the public through various channels, such as community outreach, media coverage, school education, etc. Making it clear to the public that antibiotics are not a panacea for all diseases and cannot be purchased and used at will. The public should be informed of the dangers of the misuse of antibiotics, such as the generation of resistance, the effects on its health, and the prompt access of the public to treatment in the event of illness and the use of antibiotics, as recommended by doctors.

2. Strengthening regulation

Governments and relevant authorities should strengthen controls against the production, sale and use of antibiotics. At the production chain, ensure that the quality of antibiotics is of a standard, control production and avoid overproduction leading to abuse. In the chain of sale, the non-prescribed sale of antibiotics is strictly restricted, the management of pharmacies is strengthened and the pharmacies are required to sell antibiotics at the prescription of a doctor. At the same time, a well-developed antibiotic use monitoring system is in place to monitor and evaluate the use of antibiotics in medical institutions and to correct and punish the improper use of antibiotics.

Conclusions

Antibiotics have an indelible credit in the history of human resistance to infectious diseases, but abuse has placed us before a serious challenge. We must be profoundly aware of the importance of rational use of antibiotics, from medical professionals to the general public, from research and development to production to regulatory use. Only in this way will we be better able to harness the advantage of antibiotics and control their harm, so that this double-edged sword can sustain the protection of human health.

All-body antibiotics.