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ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
Applying Ethical Principles
Student
NURS-FPX4000: Developing a Nursing Perspective
Instructor:
Submission Date 03/06/2025
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INTRODUCTION
Hello everyone,
Welcome to my presentation on Antibiotic Resistance.
The worldwide health emergency caused by antibiotic resistance makes infections tougher to cure effectively.
Bacteria evolve antibiotic tolerance which creates extended medical diseases and raises treatment expenses.
The analysis applies four ethical principles which include autonomy and beneficence and no maleficence and justice to examine antibiotic resistance.
Knowledge about this phenomenon’s ethical and clinical aspects enables better healthcare strategy development to minimize effects on health results.
Welcome to my presentation on Antibiotic Resistance. Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health threat that impacts both individual patient care and public health as a whole. It occurs when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotics, making infections harder to treat.
This resistance can lead to prolonged illnesses, higher medical costs, and increased mortality rates. In this presentation, I will apply the four ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, no maleficence, and justice to antibiotic resistance, explore bias in its treatment and policies, and discuss its relevance to chronic disease management. By understanding the ethical and clinical implications of antibiotic resistance, we can take informed steps to mitigate its impact and promote better health outcomes for all.
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Understanding Antibiotic Resistance
Bacterial resistance develops because of antibiotic treatment exposure and verifies from excessive or improper medical antibiotic prescribing.
Resistant microorganisms move between different people and communities thus making health problems that should be treatable much more dangerous to fight (Aminov, 2020) .
According to the WHO antibiotic resistance represents one of the ten most dangerous global public health threats that endangers standard medical surgical procedures.
Efficient treatment of this issue needs the collaborative efforts of healthcare providers together with public officials and members of the population alongside proper ethical decision-making practices.
Antibiotic resistance develops when bacteria adapt to survive antibiotic treatments. This can occur due to overuse or misuse of antibiotics, such as prescribing antibiotics for viral infections or patients not completing their full course of medication. Resistant bacteria can spread between individuals and across communities, making previously treatable infections more dangerous.
The World Health Organization has identified antibiotic resistance as one of the top 10 global public health threats. If not addressed, routine medical procedures, such as surgeries and cancer treatments, could become riskier due to untreatable infections. Addressing this issue requires ethical decision-making and a coordinated effort among healthcare providers, policymakers, and the public
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Autonomy and Antibiotic Resistance
The freedom to decide healthcare choices properly extends to patients yet encounters obstacles from patients who seek unnecessary course of antibiotics.
Several patients ask for antibiotics although their infections are viral because they have incorrect information about drugs.
The practice of medication prescription creates an ethical conflict between medical providers who need to respect patient self-determination and maintain antibiotic prescription standards (Hawser, 2021).
Irrational use of antibiotics needs proper education for maintaining patient freedom and addressing their medical needs.
The principle of autonomy respects a patient’s right to make informed decisions about their healthcare. However, autonomy is challenged in antibiotic resistance cases when patients demand antibiotics for conditions where they are unnecessary. Some patients, due to a lack of knowledge, insist on antibiotics for viral infections like the flu or the common cold. Physicians face ethical dilemmas in balancing patient autonomy with responsible prescribing practices.
Additionally, misinformation and lack of access to healthcare resources disproportionately affect socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, limiting their ability to make truly informed decisions. To uphold autonomy, healthcare providers must educate patients on the dangers of antibiotic misuse while still respecting their concerns.
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Beneficence in Combating Resistance
Practicing beneficence means doctors must serve what is best for patient health as well as community health needs.
Despite immediate benefits to patients from antibiotic overprescribing, continued inappropriate practice of antibiotics causes lasting damage to the community.
Doctor need to recommend preventive healthcare and vaccines to their patients instead (Meyer, 2024) .
Future public health requires extensive funding into new antibiotic research as well as therapeutic developments.
Beneficence obligates healthcare providers to act in the best interest of their patients. However, when dealing with antibiotic resistance, physicians must also consider public health implications. While prescribing antibiotics may benefit an individual in the short term, widespread overuse contributes to resistance, harming the broader population.
Balancing immediate patient needs with long-term societal benefits requires careful ethical consideration. Encouraging alternative treatments when appropriate and promoting vaccinations to prevent bacterial infections are ways to uphold beneficence. Additionally, investing in research to develop new antibiotics and alternative therapies is a crucial aspect of beneficence on a systemic level.
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Nonmaleficence and Avoiding Harm
The implementation of nonmaleficence fails when doctors use unnecessary antibiotics to create bacteria resistance.
The administration of antibiotics results in adverse effects that trigger allergic reactions and impede the natural balance of human microbes (Hawser, 2021).
Physicians need to compare the potential harms to the advantages of giving antibiotics treatments to patients.
Decreased antibiotic resistance enables continued treatment availability for upcoming medical cases.
No maleficence, or “do no harm,” is a key principle in healthcare. Antibiotic resistance challenges this principle because prescribing antibiotics when they are not needed can lead to harmful consequences, such as stronger, more resistant bacterial strains. Additionally, antibiotics can have side effects, including allergic reactions and disruptions to the body’s microbiome, which can cause secondary infections like Clostridioides difficile (C. diff).
Healthcare professionals must carefully assess the risks and benefits before prescribing antibiotics. Avoiding harm also extends to the healthcare system—reducing antibiotic resistance helps ensure that effective treatments remain available for future patients in need.
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Justice and Fair Access to Treatment
Antibiotics should be freely available to everyone but the communities without proper healthcare access bear more of the burden of antibiotic resistance.
Homeless communities face a double problem because they both consume too many antibiotics along with facing restricted healthcare access because of insufficient resources.
Medical organizations maintaining ethical standards need to establish practices that deliver antibiotics in both responsible and equitable ways (Ghai & Ghai, 2023).
The implementation of agricultural regulations and healthcare education through policy changes works to establish justice.
Justice in healthcare requires fair distribution of medical resources and treatment. Antibiotic resistance disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, such as those with limited access to healthcare, sanitation, and education about proper antibiotic use. In many low-income communities, antibiotics are overprescribed due to a lack of diagnostic tools, while in other regions, life-saving antibiotics are inaccessible due to high costs.
Ethical healthcare systems must work to ensure that antibiotics are distributed responsibly and equitably. Policy changes, such as regulations on antibiotic use in agriculture and improved access to healthcare education, are necessary to promote justice in the fight against resistance.
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The Role of Bias in Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic treatment differs depending on how healthcare providers are biased in their decision-making process.
Some minority patients do not get antibiotic treatment though white patients receive it despite similar medical requirements.
The pharmaceutical industry uses its power to make new costly antibiotics more available than proven cheaper medications (Meyer, 2024) .
The elimination of biases requires standardized medical training and systematic awareness instruction and clear prescribing procedures.
Bias plays a significant role in antibiotic prescribing and treatment disparities. Implicit biases among healthcare providers may lead to certain groups receiving antibiotics unnecessarily, while others may be under-treated. For example, studies show that minority patients are often prescribed fewer antibiotics than white patients, even when clinically appropriate.
Additionally, pharmaceutical industry influence can lead to biased prescribing patterns, where newer, more expensive antibiotics are promoted over older, equally effective ones. Addressing bias requires ongoing medical education, awareness training, and transparent policies that prioritize patient health over profit-driven motives.
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Chronic Disease Management and Resistance
Antibiotic needs become more likely for patients who maintain multiple chronic diseases such as diabetes or COPD.
Treatment of these patients becomes more difficult because antibiotic resistance occurs which leads to higher hospital admission probabilities (Ghai & Ghai, 2023).
Preventure actions based on vaccines alongside proper hygiene maintain infections without excessive antibiotic consumption.
Effective treatment in ethical chronic disease care should be combined with sustainable antibiotic stewardship practices.
Chronic disease management is one of the Four Spheres of Care significantly impacted by antibiotic resistance. Patients with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or COPD, are more prone to infections that may require antibiotic treatment. However, if resistant bacteria are present, these patients face higher risks of complications and hospitalizations.
Preventive measures, including vaccinations, good hygiene, and antibiotic stewardship programs, are crucial for managing chronic conditions while minimizing resistance risks. Ethical chronic disease management involves ensuring that these patients receive appropriate treatment while safeguarding antibiotics for future generations.
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Strategies to Combat Antibiotic Resistance
Helping patients receive antibiotics properly occurs through enhanced antibiotic stewardship programs.
When patients receive education about antibiotic misuse they tend to avoid unnecessary antibiotic consumption.
The development of new antibiotics together with alternative treatments needs significant funding through research (Aminov, 2020).
The practice of controlling livestock antibiotics and encouraging proactive healthcare practice helps to minimize antibiotic resistance development.
Addressing antibiotic resistance requires a multi-faceted approach that involves healthcare providers, patients, policymakers, and the global community. Some key strategies include:
Strengthening antibiotic stewardship programs to ensure responsible prescribing.
Educating patients on the dangers of antibiotic misuse.
Investing in research for new antibiotics and alternative treatments.
Regulating the use of antibiotics in livestock to reduce resistance in the food supply.
Encouraging preventive healthcare measures, such as vaccinations and infection control practices.
By taking collective action, we can slow the progression of antibiotic resistance and ensure that these life-saving drugs remain effective.
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Conclusion
The immediate action is required to address antibiotic resistance as a vital medical and ethical concern. We can handle the moral disputes about antibiotics as well as resistance through systematic application of autonomy with beneficence and nonmaleficence combined with justice. Medicating against antibiotic resistance requires us to eliminate prejudices in treatment and broaden access while implementing ethical prescribing practices. Future healthcare workers together with policy makers and community members must unite their efforts to protect antibiotic effectiveness in medical treatment. Thank you for your time while I urge everybody to promote antibiotic resistance awareness as well as responsible antibiotic utilization in their communities.
In conclusion, antibiotic resistance is an urgent ethical and medical issue that requires immediate attention. By applying the principles of autonomy, beneficence, no maleficence, and justice, we can navigate the ethical dilemmas surrounding antibiotic use and resistance. Addressing biases, ensuring fair access to treatment, and promoting responsible prescribing are critical steps in combating this global threat. As future healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community members, we all have a role to play in preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics. Thank you for your time, and I encourage you to spread awareness about antibiotic resistance and advocate for responsible antibiotic use in your communities.
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References
Aminov, R. (2020). Strategies to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic Drug Resistance, 589-635.
Ghai, I., & Ghai, S. (2023). Understanding antibiotic resistance via outer membrane permeability. Infection and Drug Resistance, 11, 523-530.
Hawser, S. (2021). Surveillance programmes and antibiotic resistance: Worldwide and regional monitoring of antibiotic resistance trends. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, 31-43.
Meyer, H. (2024). Antibiotic resistance – Meet the challenge. Antibiotic resistance – Meet the challenge.
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