Show K HEALTH i D YOU iWi A A t IJ I Is il ont one of 01 a rent series clet ties furnished famished b by Ih the Mt Utah Ulah Real dial n and publish f Jh- Jh a public service ct by 1 this antic articles art are scheduled sc leer tar ar every other calk I in an anto anti to with th ti better acquaint ou 01 11 t ms of health and ate art designed J ve Kt the Int weIl uell of 01 the Ihl Ii 4 t V o Utah ANTIBIOTICS J 11 literal eral meaning of anti- anti v j to be opposed to or life To millions of J. J the word has come to tos to's oJ s 's ILife Life ife Saving From a aown known known own biological cur- cur two wo decades ago anti- anti have become a com com- accepted means of re- re human human suffering and A ig g countless lives large group of sub- sub 0 II stances known as antibiotics have some characteristics in common They are all produced produced pro pro- by the growth of microorganisms microorganisms microorganisms micro micro- organisms and they will in inhibit inhibit in- in hibit the growth of or destroy de destroy de- de stroy other microorganisms in inthe inthe inthe the laboratory or in the animal ani animal animal ani- ani mal and human body Their ability to perform this function function function tion varies however in that certain antibiotics will inhibit inhibitor or destroy only group of microorganisms microorganisms microorganisms mic mic- or bacteria They also differ in their affect on the human body some being extremely poisonous and other saving life-saving miracles while others are completely tive Another factor of im importance importance importance im- im in in antibiotic therapy is the ability of bacteria to become immune or resistant to the effects of the substance These of antibiotics antibiotics antibiotics anti anti- ability to destroy bacteria bacteria bacteria bac bac- teria effect on the human body and ability of bacteria to develop resistance are important im important important im- im in the application of these substances in the treatment treatment treatment treat treat- ment of human disease Before an antibiotic is prescribed prescribed prescribed pres pres- it is necessary for the physician to ascertain which bacteria could be responsible for the particular disease so he may prescribe the proper antibiotic Then he will wish 17 In to prescribe or administer the drug in appropriate amounts over a su sufficient period of time so that forms of the bacteria will not be developed within the patient In some cases clinical judgment will not be sufficient and the physician physician phy phy- will find it necessary to obtain substances from the pa patient patient patient pa- pa tient such as blood or pus which can be cultured or r grown in the laboratory The susceptibility of these ar artificially artificially artificially ar- ar grown bacteria to a particular antibiotic can then Own be tested and an exact deter- deter of the proper antibiotic antibiotic antibiotic anti anti- biotic thus obtained The ability of bacteria to become resist resistant nt to inadequate dosages of antibiotics is of extreme ex extreme extreme ex- ex importance In the brief number of years since our first successful antibiotic penicillin lin was first introduced many diseases of vital importance to mankind which were at first successfully treated with penicillin penicillin penicillin peni peni- cillin have become resistant to its effect This resistance has recently received much publicity publicity publicity city in the case of hospital- hospital type infections with It is generally felt that much of this lost effectiveness effectiveness of penicillin is due to the use of small amounts of the substances in gum cough drops toothpaste etc We Ve must make certain that this type of mistake is not not made with our newer medi medi- Another r characteristic of antibiotics of importance to the patient is th their ir ability to produce allergic reactions An allergic reaction is an abnormal abnormal abnormal abnor abnor- mal and unwanted reaction on the part of the body to a foreign foreign foreign for for- eign substance in this case an antibiotic This reaction may vary from a mild itching at atthe atthe atthe the site of an injection to a generalized reaction which can even lead to death These sensitivities sensitivities sensitivities sen sen- frequently result from previous use of the same or similar substances or in rare cases may be present for forno forno forno no obvious reason Antibiotics ae one of the marvels of our age but through familiarity we may be prone to look lightly on some of the pitfalls and complications complications complications inherent in their use Like all potent substances used by humans their administration administration administration admin admin- should always be under un under under un- un der the guidance of a competent competent competent compe compe- tent physician This is a fact which our Pure Food and Drug Laws recognize in prohibiting prohibiting prohibiting pro pro- their sale without a prescription |