THEn Italy the abuse of antibiotics has become a bad habit for several years. To say it is theAIFA, the Italian Medicines Agencywhich highlighted a decrease in the use of these particular drugs in 2021 compared to 2020, but the Italian figure is always among the highest in all of Europe. An abuse that is evident above all in the over 85s but also in the youngest group, between 2 and 6 years old. The risk? That drugs will no longer be able to do their job and viruses will become increasingly immunethe. This is why in Europe November 18th is the European Day for the Conscious Use of Antibiotics.
Medicines, why a day dedicated to the abuse of antibiotics?
Promoted by various bodies, including the WHO and the FAO, the European Day for the Conscious Use of Antibiotics is at the center of a real week that aims to raise global awareness of the abuse of these particular drugs. Data in hand, Italy appears to be among the first countries to prescribe an antibiotic too often when it is not necessary: «In 2021, approximately 3 in 10 citizens received at least one antibiotic prescriptionwith a prevalence that increases with age, reaching 50% in those over 85. In the pediatric population, the greatest consumption is concentrated in the age group between 2 and 5 yearsin which approximately 4 out of 10 children received at least one antibiotic prescription during the year” explains the Professor Andrea Nacci, specialist in Otolaryngology and scientific contact for Schwabe Pharma Italia.
In the report compiled by AIFA regarding 2021, Italy recorded a decline of -3.3% compared to 2020 but it is always higher than the European level. The risk of this abuse? Since the broad-spectrum ones are the most prescribed, the risk is that these drugs develop antibiotic resistance in people.
The consequences of drug abuse
The immoderate use of these drugs has led to some resistance in the body which for some drugs is around between 30-50%. There are two most common errors that led to this situation: prescribe a lower dose of antibiotic than necessary, so as to modify the duration of therapy. By doing so, sensitive bacteria are eliminated but those that are not remain and begin to multiply.
The second mistake is using antibiotics even when they are not needed, as for respiratory tract infections: «The prescription of antibiotics occurs very often for airway pathologies and in particular for bronchitis, pharyngitis-tonsillitis and flu syndrome. In this regard it is necessary to remember that in most cases the pathologies of the upper airways are related to an inflammatory and non-infectious process for which symptomatic and anti-inflammatory drugs rather than antibiotics would be sufficient. Furthermore, even when the etiology is infectious, the agents most frequently called into question are viruses which are certainly not affected by antibiotic therapies, which are certainly useful and necessary in the event of significant bacterial overlap. It is estimated that approximately 80% of respiratory tract infectious processes have a viral etiology both in adults and children” explains the expert. For this reason, the relevant bodies intervened.
An economic problem too
This is a problem that affects not only healthcare in particular in hospitals where more and more infections from resistant germs are developing, but also economical: do not prescribe antibiotics so often, especially when the disease does not require it or for preventive purposes, allows you not to develop bacterial resistance and therefore reduces hospital stays, consequences of even very serious infections, and even mortality.
Pelargonium Sidoides, the natural alternative to antibiotics
Alternatives to antibiotics exist and are very useful especially in the first days of the disease. In particular, the Pelargonium Sidoides is a very effective herbal medicine in these cases: «Extracted from the roots of the African geranium, it has been used for centuries by the inhabitants of Africa as a remedy for upper respiratory tract infections, for the common cold and also for tuberculosis» explains the expert, who continues «This it acts already in the early phase of the viral infection, preventing the attachment of the virus to the cell surface; furthermore, when the cell is now infected, this drug prevents the escape of the replicated virions and the consequent spread of the infection”.
Not only that, but this herbal medicine also acts as an immunomodulator, i.e enhances the defense mechanisms of cells, also helping to protect the body from possible bacterial overlaystherefore reducing the risk of serious complications.
Finally «the use of Pelargonium Sidoides in the early stages of infectious pathologies of the upper airways can accelerate healing and reduce the prescription of antibiotics, avoiding major infectious complications» concludes the expert.
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