Antibiotics overdose lead to immunity

Thousands of Europeans die each year because antibiotics are not effective for them anymore in case of infections, according to WHO data. In Romania, antibiotics can be bought directly from the chemist, no prescription needed.

Antibiotics abuse can lead to the drug’s inefficiency. This warning was launched by experts on this year World Health Day.

Thousands of Europeans die each year because their bodies are not responding to the antibiotics prescription in case of infections.

Victor Olsavszky, WHO representative for Romania, said that mankind is on the brink of losing this wonder discovery.

Most antibiotics were discovered in the 40s and 50s, but not much research is being made in the field, because of the pharmaceutical companies’ lack of interest.

'Irrational use, doctor prescriptions, homemade prescriptions by patients, the lack of knowledge about the effects of antibiotics abuse, plus the involuntary meat consumption.’

'We all know that antibiotics are used in stock raising. Basically, we take antibiotics each day without intending to. Starting 2006 and 2008, the EU completely prohibited the use of antibiotics in stock raising or as a prophylactic on healthy farm animals', stated Victor Olsavszky.

‘The possibility to take antibiotics is the highest for chicken meat, then pork, then beef, and of course, mutton takes the last place’, Victor Olsavszky, WHO Romania representative.

Antibiotics in Romania, easy to buy

The inadequate intake of antibiotics is incorrect and abusive.

In case of an incorrect intake, patients will use insufficient doses bought from safe sources, or the treatment period will be smaller than the recommended one, which means they will interrupt the treatment when starting to feel better.

Unfortunately, doctors say, in Romania, antibiotics can still be bought freely, no prescription necessary, even though the law prohibits it.

Patients must understand that antibiotics do not destroy viruses, are not administered in case of flu or cold and that there are consequences, as with every other drug.

Also, experts say, if you go to the doctor, you shouldn’t insist on the doctor giving you an antibiotics based prescription, and you must pay attention where you get the information from, the best source for this being the doctors.

Translated by: Ciocănel Tudor

MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University