How big a problem are ‘superbugs’ in BC?
Posted September 28, 2015 8:09 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – We’re just under a week into fall — and cold and flu season isn’t far behind.
A new report out of the US says superbugs are on the rise across all countries, not just those in the first world.
Our province is in better shape than the US or UK but it’s still a problem, says deputy provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
“Superbugs or anti-microbial-resistant bugs are definitely a problem across Canada and in BC, but we don’t have as large a problem as the US. It’s still important, though,” says Henry, who details why we’ve been better able to withstand the problem.
“We’ve not had big outbreaks in our hospitals across Canada as they’ve had in the US. And there are programs that we’ve started here in BC that have been really helpful, as well. One of those is a program that we call ‘Do Bugs Need Drugs?‘”
Bacteria evolving and developing defences can make traditional drugs useless when treating them.
Henry says many of us aren’t aware of the problem or that using antibiotics for the wrong condition can be harmful.
“If you misuse them — if you use them for a viral infection, for example, like a cold or influenza — the bugs can develop resistance to those antibiotics. And then when you really need them for a bacterial infection, the antibiotics won’t work.”
The report found some front-line and emergency last-resort antibiotics are being rendered useless by superbugs.
“It’s all about teaching people as well as health care professionals about appropriate use of antibiotics. They’re so important and there are some people that really need the antibiotics. And what we want to do is make sure they’re used for the right people for the right things and prevent the misuse of antibiotics,” says Henry.
