Useless antibiotics in Italy cause 12 deaths each year.

Italy is one of the European countries with the highest antibiotic resistance: It is estimated that as many as 12 deaths a year are caused by superbugs' resistance to antibiotics.. And this is also due to the fact that we buy, use and waste too many of them.

A problem, that of antibiotic resistance, which has returned to the forefront following the identification, in the United States, of the first case of a "bacteria" resistant to all antibiotics, difficult to combat even with Medicines last generation.

One of the main causes of resistance is to be found in intensive farming. where 70 percent of the antibiotics produced in the world end up. In particular, The European Union has analyzed the intestines of slaughterhouse poultry and found high percentages of resistant bacteria, bacteria that then end up directly on our plates since the slaughter lines do not fully protect against contamination.

There is a tendency in our homes to use antibiotics even when they are not needed.This is a serious mistake, which can produce very serious side effects. TemperatureColds and coughs are ailments that, barring complications, generally resolve within a few days even without abusing various drugs and antibiotics.

How are antibiotics used?

Therefore, it is used excessively when in reality it is a question of drugs which should be used with some caution and not as Medicines of self-medication. Here are some useful tips on how to best use antibiotics:

• - antibiotics They're not all the same, they don't target the same bacteria, and they differ in doses, administration methods, and duration of treatment. This is yet another reason to never take them on your own, or based simply on word of mouth.

• Once started, antibiotic therapy must be completed to avoid the risk of relapses or serious complications. The duration of antibiotic treatment varies greatly and generally depends on the type of drug: some formulations are administered for 15-day periods, while others are effective with a 3-day course. Just because the fever has subsided or the child is feeling better doesn't mean you can stop treatment, as the bacteria causing the infection may only be partially eradicated, allowing the disease to progress instead of disappearing.

• Side effects include diarrhea, bloating and abdominal cramps, candidiasis vaginal, thrush, stomatitis, mouth ulcers, and general weakness. To avoid these, consult the doctor who prescribed the medication for some form of protection.

• Even antibiotics, despite being lifesaving drugs, can cause side effects. Why? Because in addition to killing pathogenic bacteria, they also attack the benign intestinal and vaginal flora that regulate their proper functioning.

• They must be prescribed by the medical health insurance company and administered according to its instructions. It is very important to respect the time intervals between one dose and the next.

• Once it's clear that antibiotics are absolutely unnecessary for colds and flu, keep in mind that they're only appropriate for bacterial infections, which share some symptoms with viral ones and therefore can only be diagnosed by a doctor or pediatrician.

• First of all, it is good to know that antibiotics are natural and synthetic substances that fight infections. Caused by bacteria. This means they are completely ineffective in treating viral infections such as fever, colds, coughs, bronchitis, and pharyngitis. The incorrect use of antibiotics is one of the causes of so-called "bacterial resistance": essentially, bacteria learn to neutralize the antibiotic, which then becomes useless.

• If you experience any problems, do not change your antibiotic on your own but contact your doctor immediately.

• If you already have the medicine at home, remember to check the expiration date carefully before using it.

• Among the damage caused by the incorrect use of antibiotics, we must not underestimate the risk of creating super bacteria that can expose us and our children to diseases that are no longer curable with the drugs currently available.

If we take too many antibiotics, apart from the various contraindications that arise from it, our body is at risk of becoming resistant to the drugAnd bacteria aren't disappearing. Italy is one of the countries with the highest levels of antibiotic resistance: every year, on average, 7-10 percent of patients are affected by a multidrug-resistant bacterial infection. Bacteria can adapt and become resistant, making drugs less effective or even useless. This phenomenon is called antibiotic resistance.
Result: infections that are more difficult to treat and a higher risk of complications.

A recent Danish study has demonstrated another side effect of antibiotic overuse, which had previously been largely overlooked. Too many antibiotics increase the risk of digestive diseases by 27 percent, particularly ulcerative colitis and Crohn's diseaseCurrently, these two diseases affect 250 people in Italy, but this figure could double—half a million—by 2030 if the harmful abuse of antibiotics is not curbed.

Often prescribed completely inappropriately, antibiotics are among the drugs most used by Italians: there are those who even take them as if they were a simple aspirin And sometimes even without consulting a doctor. Antibiotics are useless for viral infections, and when the infection is bacterial, they must be selected based on several factors. For example, the type of bacteria, the ability of each antibiotic to target that bacteria, and tolerability, including based on the patient's age. These are all reasons why antibiotics should be taken only under the direction and supervision of a doctor, and not as if they were over-the-counter medications.

Finally, antibiotics by injection they are no more powerful than those taken by mouthThe choice between the two options depends on the patient's condition (some are unable to swallow pills) and not on the pathology, nor on the treatment path or goals.

There are some foods that can help our body fight antibiotic resistance: these foods significantly reduce the likelihood of bacteria that possess the resistance gene to drugs such as antibiotics proliferating in our body. According to a study published in mBio, the official journal of the American Society of Microbiology, the foods that give these results are fiber-based. Orzo, oats, legumes, chia seeds, nuts, fruit, berries, "zucca" and broccoli. To develop protection against antibiotic resistance, the ideal daily dose is 8-10 grams of fiber.