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Bulgaria is the only country in the EU where antibiotic use is rising, according to a report by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). 43% of people self-medicate with antibiotics. 59% mistakenly believe antibiotics are effective against viral infections. 53% believe they help against colds and flu.
But if everything were done by the book, doctors should only prescribe antibiotics to treat a bacterial infection, and preferably after a microbiological test. These drugs don't work against viruses. And viruses cause most upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold and the flu.
If people overuse antibiotics or use them incorrectly, bacteria can become resistant. This means the antibiotic becomes less effective against that particular type of bacteria, because it has managed to improve its defenses.
How antibiotics work, what antibiotic resistance is, what their natural alternatives are, and how to restore the body after taking these drugs – these are the questions we'll answer in detail.
What is an antibiotic?
Antibiotics are drugs that kill bacteria or suppress their essential life functions. An antibiotic binds only to structures found in the bacterial cell, which are unique and have no counterpart in human or animal cells, which is why they're effective and relatively low in toxicity.
One of the biggest risks of excessive antibiotic use is that they stop working while the bacteria continue to develop. All types of bacteria can develop resistance. This is due to a mutation in the cell that helps the bacterium survive unfavorable conditions. That's why it's important for antibiotics to be taken only on prescription.
Side effects of taking antibiotics
The most common side effects of antibiotic use are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, rashes, stomach upset, sun sensitivity, and the development of fungal infections. To reduce these effects, doctors prescribe pro- and prebiotics, and other supplements. It's important that these be combined under the guidance of a medical professional. Some doctors claim that antibiotics reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives, but there's no solid evidence for this. Drinking alcohol is also not recommended, and in some cases there are restrictions on driving as well.
Probiotics and antibiotics
Antibiotics alter the gut microbiome in both children and adults, causing diarrhea. A review of 12 studies in children treated with antibiotics shows reduced diversity and richness of the microbiome, along with changes in bacterial abundance. Significant reductions are found in bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, along with a significant increase in proteobacteria such as E. coli.
Prebiotics and probiotics help restore gut health and reduce the frequency and duration of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). Probiotics (including Bacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Clostridium butyricum, lactobacilli, Lactococcus spp., Leuconostoc cremoris, Saccharomyces spp., or Streptococcus spp., alone or in combination) have a moderate protective effect in reducing the risk of AAD, according to https://internationalprobiotics.org/.
That's why probiotics prescribed alongside antibiotics lead to better treatment outcomes than antibiotics alone for conditions including Helicobacter pylori infections, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and other gut infections.
To help the body recover after taking antibiotics, specialists recommend taking hydrolyzed collagen. It contains the amino acids glycine, glutamine, and proline, which play an important role in maintaining gut health. Glycine supports metabolism, breaks down fatty acids, and takes care of the intestinal tract. This amino acid reduces inflammation because it fuels the production of serotonin, which in turn leads to more melatonin, which has a calming effect.
It's important, for at least 1 month after taking antibiotics, to eat more fiber and probiotic foods. Apples, bananas, leeks, asparagus, grapefruit, the already-mentioned cabbage, garlic, and fermented foods will help restore disrupted gut flora.
Cutting back on sugar is the other recommendation. Bad bacteria and yeasts thrive in a sugary environment. The more sugar we eat, the stronger they become. This can lead to diarrhea or yeast infections.
