Could antibiotic resistance trigger a crisis worse than COVID-19?!

One overprescribed drug, countless health implications

Last spring, I told you about the alarming overuse of antibiotic drugs in America.

Shockingly, Americans receive nearly 300 million prescriptions for antibiotics in outpatient settings (which are doctor visits outside of the hospital).¹ That equates to more than five prescriptions for every six people in the U.S. And almost one course of antibiotics annually for every living person.

Worse yet, this heavy overuse shows no signs of stopping any time soon. In fact, “inappropriate antibiotic use” may eventually account for 50 percent of all the drug prescriptions written every year in this country!

But the story doesn’t end there.

Emerging research links the overuse of antibiotics to a slew of serious health problems—including antibiotic resistance, harder-to-treat infections, heart disease, gastrointestinal (GI) problems, and even cancer.

This could make the COVID-19 pandemic pale in comparison… which is a truly frightening possibility.

So, with the seasonal spike of colds, the flu, and other viruses just around the corner, it’s important you know about these mounting risks before you, too, get prescribed an unnecessary (and potentially dangerous) course of antibiotics.

A frightening tale of overuse

Antibiotic overuse and misuse can happen in several ways, including when you:²

• Take an antibiotic for something other than a bacterial infection (such as a common cold or the flu)
• Take your (or someone else’s) leftover antibiotics
• Don’t follow dosing instructions (like doubling up on pills)
• Take an antibiotic, unnecessarily, for too long

Sadly, this kind of overuse and misuse has directly led to the creation of new antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

And it’s already rendered many antibiotic drugs COMPLETELY USELESS against certain germs.

Folks, I’m not even being an alarmist here…

Each year in the U.S. alone, there are more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. And they kill more than 35,000 people annually.³

Plus, the COVID-19 pandemic only worsened the situation…

In fact, according to new data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), antibiotic-resistant, hospital-onset bacterial infections increased by 20 percent during the pandemic. And once these bacteria become resistant to our best antibiotic drugs—there’s very little we can do to control them and save lives.⁴

There are already five so-called “superbugs” we face today that may not respond at all to antibiotics—including C.diff (Clostridioides difficile) and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). This threat is real. In fact, earlier this year, a MRSA outbreak at a hospital infected three babies and three healthcare workers—prompting the hospital to shut down the entire neonatal department until they could get the infection under control.⁵

The situation has grown so dire that some experts think antibiotic resistance—if we don’t get it under control within the next decade—will make the COVID-19 crisis “look minor.”⁶

 Too much of a good thing

Antibiotic resistance already takes a tremendous toll on our public health system…

According to a study published in the journal Clinical Infections Diseases, people with antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections require more intensive care and must stay in the hospital 5.6 days longer than peers. This ultimately leads to higher healthcare costs for all of us.⁷

It also takes a toll on the individual level. For example, adults over 65 and those with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of developing antibiotic-resistant infections like MRSA.⁸

You’re also at a greater risk for this kind of infection if you’ve been taking long-term antibiotics. (That’s likely because antibiotics may lower your body’s natural ability to fight off infections.)

Of course, research links prolonged antibiotic use to other serious health problems. In fact, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal, women ages 60 and older who took antibiotics for two months or more had a 32 percent higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease than their peers.⁹

We also know that just one course of fluoroquinolones (a class of antibiotics) can increase your risk of suffering a tear or rupture of your aorta, the main artery that supplies oxygen to the body.¹⁰ And one commonly prescribed antibiotic—azithromycin (Zithromax)—can cause irreversible irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias).

And here’s the kicker…

Just one and you’re done

According to a major study published in the journal Gut, antibiotics can raise your risk of developing deadly colon cancer! ¹¹

Researchers analyzed antibiotic use data from nearly 11 million people over 23 years in the U.K. And they found that people who received just one course of antibiotics had a “significant” increase in colon cancer risk during the eight years of follow-up.

Plus, there was a strong “dose response”—meaning the more days a person took an antibiotic, the higher their risk of developing colon cancer.

Specifically, there was an 8 percent increase in colon cancer risk with just 15 to 30 days of antibiotic exposure over the 23-year study period. And there was an approximate 15 percent increase in risk with 30 or more days of antibiotic exposure. (Penicillin drugs posed the highest risk.)

But consider this…

The typical antibiotics course is 10 days. And I would wager most Americans have been prescribed at least one or two courses in their adult lives.

So, according to these findings, most of us probably are already at a higher risk of developing colon cancer—solely from taking commonly prescribed antibiotics—and don’t even realize it!

Of course, the reason behind this deadly increase in risk isn’t a great mystery.

Research clearly shows that antibiotics disrupt your gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome—the environment in your gut where billions of healthy bacteria thrive. And experts now believe your gut is the frontline of defense against countless diseases, including cancer.

Not to mention—antibiotics also decrease your immune response and increase inflammation, which can alter the effectiveness of cancer treatments, especially chemotherapy.¹²

So, since we’re heading into the time of year when we usually see a significant uptick in antibiotic prescriptions, let’s go over some basic rules for safe (and necessary) use…

Rule of five

Data shows that 40 percent of all antibiotic prescriptions for respiratory infections are written in the winter.¹³ So, it’s important you keep these five rules in mind over the coming months…

1.) Never take an antibiotic “just in case” or for viral infections. In general, antibiotics should only be used to treat a confirmed bacterial infection or prior to certain medical procedures. That means you should avoid them for common viral infections or upper respiratory infections, like a head cold, the flu, or even COVID-19.

Try preventing these illnesses instead. Stock up on vitamins A and D, olive leaf extract, oil of oregano, zinc, and quercetin.

2.) Follow your doc’s orders. If your doctor does determine you need an antibiotic, first, make sure to discuss why it’s absolutely necessary. It’s important to personally weigh the risks and benefits. Then, make sure you take it as prescribed… and for the shortest duration possible. (Never take leftover antibiotics from your, or someone else’s, medicine cabinet.)

3.) Avoid developing bacterial infections. Take precautionary measures against common bacterial infections, like washing your hands often, getting enough sleep, and cutting out sugar and white foods (like bread and pasta), which suppress your immune system.

4.) Take a good, daily probiotic. This will help build and maintain a healthy gut microbiome. And it will go a long way in replenishing all the “good” bacteria that get flushed out of your gut if you do end up needing an antibiotic. Look for a brand that contains prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics—like Dr. Ohhira’s. And remember, more isn’t necessarily better. The key is diversity of strains, not quantity.

5.) Stick with organic meat, eggs, and dairy. This will help you to avoid the onslaught of antibiotics given to animals raised conventionally. And when consuming fish, always opt for wild-caught selections for the same reasons.

In the end, we know that antibiotic resistance poses a growing threat to global health, with severe implications for both you and our entire healthcare system.

By understanding the risks and following guidelines for responsible antibiotic use, you can help combat this crisis. Remember, antibiotics are powerful tools, but their overuse and misuse can have far-reaching consequences. Stay informed, use antibiotics wisely, and explore natural alternatives to protect yourself from antibiotic resistance.

SIDEBAR: Try natural alternatives

It’s important to remember that humans survived thousands of years without antibiotics. And that many natural substances have antibacterial properties, including garlic, ginger, and honey.

Here are a few targeted, natural alternatives you might consider before taking an antibiotic:

• For minor skin and sinus infections, apply warm compresses to help kill the bacteria and give your immune system time to take over.
• For minor throat irritation, try gargling with a mixture of warm water and salt.
• For mild urinary tract infections (UTIs), increase your fluid intake and start taking a cranberry supplement. Some research suggests adding cranberry juice or cranberry supplements to your daily regimen can help prevent recurring infections in some people.^14,15
• For respiratory infections, taking echinacea and goldenseal can have a strong antibacterial effect, according to research.

References:

1. “Measuring Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10/5/22. (cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/data/outpatient-prescribing/index.html)
2. “What are some of the effects of overusing antibiotics?” Medical News Today, 10/10/23. (medicalnewstoday.com/articles/effects-of-overusing-antibiotics)
3. “AR Threats Report.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accessed 1/7/23. (cdc.gov/drugresistance/biggest-threats.html)
4. “Antimicrobial Resistance Facts and Stats.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accessed 8/21/24. (cdc.gov/antimicrobial-resistance/data-research/facts-stats/index.html#:~:text=In%20July%202024%2C%20CDC%20published,period%2C%20peaking%20in%202021%2C%20and)
5. “MRSA outbreak at Almere Hospital’s baby ward.” NL Times, 5/23/24. (nltimes.nl/2024/05/23/mrsa-outbreakt-almere-hospitals-baby-ward)
6. “Rise of drug-resistant superbugs could make Covid pandemic look ‘minor,’ expert warns.” The Guardian, 5/13/24. (theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/may/13/superbugs-antibiotics-drugs-antimicrobial-resistance-infections-pandemics-sally-davies)
7. “Antibiotic Stewardship in the Acute Care Setting: A Review.” Clinical Infectious Diseases, 64(4), 469-479. doi.org/10.1093/cid/cix946.
8. “Antibiotic resistance.” Cleveland Clinic, accessed 8/21/24. (my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21655-antibiotic-resistance)
9. “Antibiotic use linked to greater risk of heart attack and stroke.” ESC, 4/25/19. (escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/Antibiotic-use-linked-to-greater-risk-of-heart-attack-and-stroke#:~:text=The%20study%2C%20published%20in%20the,(aged%2040%2D59).)
10. “Can antibiotics damage a person’s heart?” Medical News Today, 10/13/23. (medicalnewstoday.com/articles/do-antibiotics-hurt-your-heart)
11. “Oral antibiotic use and risk of colorectal cancer in the United Kingdom, 1989–2012: a matched case–control study.” Gut. 2019 Nov;68(11):1971-1978.
12. “Use antibiotics wisely, especially if you’re a cancer patient.” City of Hope, 11/8/23. (cancercenter.com/community/blog/2023/11/antibiotics-and-cancer#:~:text=Antibiotics%20may%20also%20inhibit%20immune,’re%20on%20antibiotics%2C%20Dr.)
13. “Winter months see more antibiotic prescriptions for respiratory infections.” Healio, 9/13/23. (healio.com/news/primary-care/20230913/winter-months-see-more-antibiotic-prescriptions-for-respiratory-infections)
14. “Cranberries for treating urinary tract infections.” Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000;1998(2):CD001322. doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001322.
15. “Top seven safe, effective natural antibiotics.” Medical News Today, 11/14/23. (medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321108)