A pilot Michigan antibiotic disposal program started this week intends to slow down possible antibiotic resistance in consumers.
The program, Antibiotic Roundup, is a statewide public health initiative aimed to educate consumers about proper antibiotic use. If the Michigan pilot is effective, it will expand nationwide later this year.
The Michigan Antibiotic Resistance Reduction Coalition, or MARR, launched the initiative Wednesday intended to get consumers to dispose of old or unused antibiotics at Meijer pharmacies.
Research shows repeated and incorrect use leads to antibiotic resistance, said Mary Eley, executive director of MARR. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can spread through communities creating infections harder to treat, she said.
College students have to be careful because many can't afford the rising prices of medicine, she said.
"It is a very serious public-health threat because these bacteria are growing resistant to antibiotics," Eley said.
The Centers for Disease Control, Meijer and MARR are asking for old or unused antibiotics to Meijer pharmacies for disposal during the next three months, Eley said.
Antibiotic resistance is not a new threat, but it's becoming more serious, she said.
"Antibiotics are prescribed 50 percent of the time when they are not necessary," Eley said. "Each time, doctors need to prescribe something stronger, which means stronger side effects."
Many types of bacteria have become increasingly less responsive to treatment during the last decade, she said. In some patients, penicillin has grown resistant between 20 and 40 percent, she said.
Common behaviors such as skipping doses, stopping medication early, saving medication for a future illness or sharing prescriptions can contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Antibiotics are commonly overused for viral infections such as colds and sinus infections, said Olin Health Center Director Dr. Glynda Moorer. There is a strong push to use antibiotics for only bacterial infections.
Bacterial infections, such as meningitis and pneumonia, are the growth of microorganisms that damage host tissue, Eley said. Bacterial infections have cells that the antibiotics work to kill but they are smart, she said.
"Bacteria has been around since the beginning of time, it only makes sense that they will find a way around dying," Eley said.
