Presented By:
Cheryl Stover & Jordana Naftzinger

In 1928, Alexander Fleming noticed that one of his experiments had gone awry.

A culture of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria had been contaminated by mold, which effectively prevented the growth of the bacteria. From that chance observation came the introduction of penicillin in 1941, and the golden age of medicine began.

Penicillin—and antibiotics in general—have made possible the treatment and care of once fatal conditions such as tuberculosis and made life-saving surgeries possible through the treatment and management of infection.

But the ease with which antibiotics combat bugs became complacency. And now, the medical community is looking at a future where the bugs are becoming immune to the drugs.

Resistance

“Antibiotic resistance is a natural result of antibiotic use,” said Darcia Johnson, Program Officer with the CDC’s Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work initiative. The more a bug is exposed to a particular drug, the more accustomed to that drug it becomes. If a drug isn’t taken as prescribed, some bugs that outlived the initial treatment survive to spread their drug-resistant capabilities. What started as an infection in one person could easily spread to another.

Such has been the case with Staphylococcus aureus, that same bug responsible for Fleming’s discovery.

Staph typically causes illnesses ranging from skin infections to pneumonia.

In recent years, MRSA, a strain of staph that is resistant to several antibiotics including methicillin (the M in MRSA), has made headlines. In extreme cases, infection with MRSA can result in death. While institutional-based cases of this infection have declined in recent years, an uptick in community-acquired infections has also been noticed.

Part of the problem lies with a misunderstanding of what these drugs can do.

“Antibiotics are wonderful drugs,” said Johnson, “when used appropriately.” Antibiotics can combat only illnesses caused by bacteria. If your illness is caused by a virus—like those responsible for the common cold or the flu—antibiotics cannot defeat the cause or make you feel better. Of course, outside of fairly clear-cut cases (such as cold and flu), determining which illnesses are caused by bacteria and which by viruses can be tricky. Even physicians, Johnson said, can have a hard time telling. In some cases, the only way to know is by running a test.

What Can Be Done

Fortunately, we can help preserve the effectiveness of our current drugs through several simple steps.

• Try to prevent infection through proper hand washing and appropriate vaccinations. If you do get sick, hand washing becomes even more important to prevent the spread of your illness among friends, family members and coworkers.

• Don’t ask for an antibiotic. Your health care provider should decide if an antibiotic is necessary or even effective.

• Take your antibiotic exactly as prescribed. Even if you begin to see your symptoms improve, continue with the dosing your doctor recommended until you’ve completed the required course. Doing so helps ensure that all the harmful bacteria are eliminated.

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Heritage Assisted Living cares for the members in their community and strives to encourage the independence of seniors, but also encourage them to partake in daily activities. They are dedicated to meeting the needs of their seniors. Their mission is to improve the life of each and every single member that is within their community by delivering excellent healthcare and the compassion of their staff. Heritage’s educated and well-trained nurses have become the core of the community. Through dedication and passion, Heritage will continue to improve the daily lives of their senior citizens.

Both Heritage communities are Genesis HealthCare facilities, one of the nation’s largest long-term care and rehabilitation therapy providers. Genesis Health Care employs over 36,000 people, each one dedicated to the delivery of quality health care to the residents and patients of their centers.

More than 200 skilled nursing centers and assisted living communities are located in 13 eastern states, with healthcare providers in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Genesis Healthcare is headquartered in downtown Kennett Square, Pennsylvania – a historic borough located southwest of Philadelphia and about 20 minutes northwest of Wilmington, Delaware.