Antibiotics are often being discussed in the media due to the increasing resistance and therefore reduced effectiveness at combating the infections they were designed to fight. In fact, the World Health Organisation (WHO) state that this resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health currently and, although it is a natural process, it is being accelerated by misuse of the medications.
A lot of the responsibly for the correct use of antibiotics may be placed on health care professionals, however there are some simple steps that individuals may take to assist with the prevention of accelerating the current crisis. These include; only taking antibiotics when they have been prescribed, never sharing, never using leftover drugs or insisting on a prescription when you have been advised they will not be an effective treatment by your doctor. We can all also try to prevent the infections initially by practicing good hygiene with food preparation, frequent hand washing, avoiding others who have infections and ensuring our vaccinations are accepted at the appropriate times.
We all want our antibiotics to be available to help us fight infections for years to come so we must all play our part in minimising the growing resistance.
There are many different types of antibiotics which all are tailored for different infections. The 7 main groups are; Penicillins, Cephalosporins, Macrolides, Fluoroquinolones, Sulfonamides, Tetracyclines and Aminoglycosides.
Moxifloxacin is an antibiotic which is used for the treatment of bacterial infections. Some of its main uses are pneumonia, endocarditis, conjunctivitis and sinusitis. The broader group of antibiotics to which Moxifloxacin belongs are called the Fluoroquinolones (sometimes just called quinolones). This particular antibiotic works by stopping the growth of the bacteria.
Despite the obvious uses of this medicine, there are, as with any drug, some risks involved. One risk with Moxifloxacin to always bear in mind is its potential for QT interval prolongation. This is an effect on the heart rhythm which could even prove fatal on some cases. In the development of any drugs the effect on the QT interval must always be established using thorough QT studies as part of the clinical trial. You could read more in depth information about these studies at https://www.richmondpharmacology.com/specialist-services/tqt
Other less serious side effects of Moxifloxacin include diarrhoea, headaches, and dizziness. More serious complications reported have included nerve damage and tendon ruptures. This clearly highlights the dangers of taking ay medications unnecessarily and without advice from a doctor. Not only could it risk damaging the effectiveness of the antibiotic but could also risk the health of the individual.
