Reply

Charrie

1. Back in 2014 I had a urinary tract infection, and the Doctor prescribed me an antibiotic called Bactrim. I had a severe reaction to it, which started with an itchy and tingly sensation from my foot up to my face, my face, and lip started swelling and my throat was burning. I rushed to the ER, and they told me that it was an allergic reaction to the antibiotic I took. I didn't know that I'm allergic until the reaction happened. 

2. BACTRIM vs Amoxicillin- This is a combination of two antibiotics: sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. It is used to treat various bacterial infections. Dr. prescribed me this one because they believe that it's more effective for UTI. It did work for my UTI, but the only downside was my body reacted differently with what they gave me. Although, with other antibiotics I'm fine. I mostly take Amoxicillin now and it works just right for me. I usually get infections causing to get lymph nodes and such, and after taking a couple capsule, I  can tell the difference with my body; I feel fine and lymph nodes usually disappears in no time.  According to (Castro, 2014), ''Many antibiotics work by attacking the cell wall of bacteria. Specifically, the drugs prevent the bacteria from synthesizing a molecule in the cell wall called peptidoglycan, which provides the wall with the strength it needs to survive in the human body. '' So, basically the antibiotic targets to kill bad bacteria in our system.

3. This topic actually makes me think now since the pandemic the use of hand sanitizers is constant. It is believed to stop the spread of the Corona Virus and so is soap. My family uses them every day, at home even at work. Antibacterial soaps contain triclosan,'' The EPA regulates the use of triclosan as a pesticide and is in the process of updating its assessment of the effects of triclosan when it is used in pesticides.'' If it can kill pests, then I don't think it's safe for humans. Pesticides are known to have strong chemicals that can kill humans too. I didn't know this until I have read  FDA: Taking a Closer Look at Antibacterial Soap.

References

Antibacterial soap? You can skip it, use plain soap and water. (2019, May 16). U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/antibacterial-soap-you-can-skip-it-use-plain-soap-and-water

Bactrim DS oral: Uses, side effects, interactions, pictures, warnings & dosing. (n.d.). WebMD - Better information. Better health.  https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-5530/bactrim-ds-oral/details

Castro, J. (2014, March 19). How do antibiotics work? livescience.com.  https://www.livescience.com/44201-how-do-antibiotics-work.html

Sullivan, G., Delgado, N. N., Maharjan, R., & Cain, A. (2020, October). How antibiotics work together: Molecular mechanisms behind combination therapy. ScienceDirect.com | Science, health and medical journals, full text articles and books.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1369527420300710

Victoria

1. I personally was prescribed an antibiotic for infections after I had surgery last December. The antibiotic is supposed to be used to treat infections, but I did not have an infection, what I had was just a very swollen fluid filled hole underneath my skin. The outcome was that the antibiotics did absolutely nothing for me and did not treat any issue I had.

2.

· Azithromycin - The antibiotic only targets a specific cell type, which in this case, would be a cell type that creates infections like gonorrhea, etc. 

. Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses 16th ed F.A. Davis Company, (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 2019.

3.

· I really don’t think that hand sanitizer and antibacterial soaps contribute to the antibiotic resistance problem. In my opinion, soaps and sanitizers are for topical use and don’t get into your bloodstream, unlike an antibiotic pill. I'm assuming that if a product isn’t actually entering your bloodstream, the antibodies you have already developed won’t be changed by the soap/sanitizer you are applying to the outside of your body, it will only affect the area it was used on.

· I use soap and sanitizer at home and at work. The reason I use both is because they help me stay somewhat germ free throughout the day to minimize my chance of picking up a flu germ from someone else. I do not have a specific favorite regarding sanitizer/soap and water, I simply just use both.

Brittany

· Good evening,

·      Fortunately, every doctor that my family and I have been affiliated with, we have been given the proper amount and dosage of all medications including antibiotics.  In fact, when my grandma was prescribed Amoxicillin, she did not experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea which is known to be the common side effects.  The doctor informed her it will be useful to consume these due to the stomach ulcer she had the time.  As a result, she reduced the amount of risk of a more severe ulcer in the future.  God has blessed her with great doctors in Florida!

·      In regards to Penicillin being beneficial, it creates a cell wall which is then produced from amino acids and peptides.  Additionally, the human cells have no need for the protection of peptidoglycan.  The bacteria are comprised of a macromolecule that can be exposed to the metabolic pathways.  Humans cannot be harmed since the Penicillin ceases all steps in the creation of a macromolecule which is vital for the bacteria to disappear.  “Penicillin, one of the first antibiotics to be used widely, prevents the final cross-linking step, or transpeptidation, in assembly of this macromolecule” (Scientific American, 2006.)  Furthermore, there are a variety of different antibiotics that operate differently than Penicillin in order to benefit the patients.

·      Antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers will 100 percent contribute to the antibiotic resistance dilemma since the FDA market produced soaps that included the ingredient, Triclosan.  This has health concerns that include making bacterial immune to the antibiotics.  There is also no further research to justify that the “antibacterial soap” and “special” ingredients will eliminate the bacteria.  Soap and water have been proven to kill bacteria.  On the contrary, my family and I purchase these products not understanding the risks that it can have in the long term. 

·       Hand sanitizers are experiencing a similar issue with ingredients being used.  Benzalkonium chloride, ethyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol will be ceased in the making of the products for further research into their potential health risks to the consumers.  With that being said, here is a statement from the FDA: - “At this time, the FDA does not intend to take action to remove hand sanitizers containing these three active ingredients from the market” (FDA, 2019).  Time will tell.

·  

· Resources:

· American, S. (2006, March 13). How do antibiotics kill bacterial cells but not human cells? Scientific American.  https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-antibiotics-kill-b/ .

· Commissioner, O. of the. (2019, May 16). Antibacterial Soap? You Can Skip It, Use Plain Soap and Water. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/antibacterial-soap-you-can-skip-it-use-plain-soap-and-water .

· Commissioner, O. of the. (2019, April 11). FDA issues final rule on safety and effectiveness of consumer hand sanitizers. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-issues-final-rule-safety-and-effectiveness-consumer-hand-sanitizers.