Antibiotic resistance

[Turnedlight]

This weeks news that there are now bacteria resistant to all current antibiotics, and the estimate for it to be a problem in uk within five years, has got me thinking - is this the beginning of the end for taking immune suppressing drugs?

[jiml]

I don't think so Turnedlight as they work in a different way I think as a non medical person that  antibiotics kill infections, whereas immune suppressing drugs are targeting certain cells and blocking their paths, not actually killing anything
I could be totally wrong and will stand to be corrected

[Fred]

I need my thinking cap.  

Antibiotics if I'm correct they are designed to fight viruses, infections, bacteria.

Autoimmune problems such as Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis is to do with the body attacking itself and the treatments aim to slow down the process.

So I would say No it is not the end of immune suppressing drugs as they are a different thing altogether.

[Turnedlight]

But the drugs suppress the immune system, making it easier to get infections because you can't fight them off as easily, or so I understand?

[Turnedlight]

Otherwise, why have I had more colds recently than for as long as I can remember? A side effect of Humira is catching whatever is going..

[Caroline]

I need my thinking cap.  

oh oh......

Antibiotics if I'm correct they are designed to fight viruses, infections, bacteria.

Antibiotics don't fight viruses.

Autoimmune problems such as Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis is to do with the body attacking itself and the treatments aim to slow down the process.

So I would say No it is not the end of immune suppressing drugs as they are a different thing altogether.

I think the same as you, don't think there is a relation.

I'd not know why Turnedlight has more colds than before, but the effect of Humira, the weakening of the immune system may be related to that.
On the other hand, my lymphos are also lower, but my number of colds has never changed. I am hardly ever sick.

[jiml]

I see what you mean but I don't think it will stop the prescribing of immune suppressants,  but it will just be more difficult to rid ourselves of infections, colds etc

Antibiotics will not fight colds and infections caused by viruses like colds and flu, antibiotics are used for viruses bacterial infection

edited by Jim  

[Fred]

@Caroline thank you for the clarification I will put my cap away now as it's Saturday.  

@Turnedlight Yes Humira does weaken your immune system and you could be more likely to pick up a cold, but having said that by having psoriasis your immune system is already having problems. I like Caroline rarely get colds of flu, and if I do they are never any worse than Mrs Fred.

Some of us more prone to getting colds, my sister seems to get every cold going and worse than those around her but she doesn't have any immune problems or drugs related to lowering her immune system. So could it be that you did tend to get colds worse than others around you, and maybe Humira has just made you a bit more susceptible to them. Maybe as your body gets used to Humira it may tail off.  

EDIT: How come Caroline says Antibiotics Don't fight viruses, yet Jim says they Do

Confused.

[jiml]

Oops I will edit that

[Turnedlight]

No, I never got colds, my immune system is normally very strong with more white blood cells which is (I believe) why I have psoriasis and never normally get ill.

Plus, I do know that antibiotics don't fight viruses, however our immune system fights viruses.
When you are on an immunosuppressant drug, it suppresses your immunity and ability to fight illness, hence the name.

I'm not so worried that I might find it harder to fight colds etc, I'm worried that if we get antibiotic resistant illnesses here, and I am on Humira, I am more likely to catch it and less likely to fight it.

It may be that in the future it will be too risky to suppress your immune system in a world where the doctors can't do anything for certain illnesses.