Researchers from Flinders University and SAHMRI are emphasizing the critical importance of more responsible antibiotic use to safeguard older adults in residential aged care facilities from the perilous rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, often referred to as ‘superbugs’.
Researchers from Flinders University and SAHMRI are emphasizing the critical importance of more responsible antibiotic use to safeguard older adults in residential aged care facilities from the perilous rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, often referred to as ‘superbugs’.
A recent study published in the Journal of Infection examines how the frequent use of antibiotics in aged care settings contributes to the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in residents’ intestines, which can then spread to others.
Lead author and PhD student Sophie Miller states, “Antibiotics that are commonly prescribed to elderly patients can lead to increased levels of resistant bacteria in the gut. These ‘superbugs’ can diminish the effectiveness of other essential antibiotics.”
“The high rates of antibiotic prescriptions in these facilities likely contribute to the rise of these resistant strains, resulting in longer hospital stays, increased health care expenses, and higher mortality rates.”
“This pattern not only undermines the effectiveness of antibiotic treatments but also creates a considerable risk of treatment failures in a population that is already vulnerable.”
The World Health Organization identifies antibiotic resistance as a major threat to global health, food security, and overall development, with various infections—including pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, and salmonella—becoming increasingly difficult to treat as antibiotics lose their efficacy.
“To effectively address the global health challenge of antibiotic resistance, we need a thorough understanding of antibiotic prescribing patterns and their consequences,” Sophie Miller adds.
The researchers conducted an analysis of stool samples from 164 residents across five long-term aged care facilities in South Australia to investigate the genetic makeup of their gut bacteria that leads to antibiotic resistance.
“We found a strong correlation between a frequently prescribed antibiotic for aged care residents and an increase in resistance to other antibiotics that the patients had not been given,” she explains.
Alarmingly, the study found that nearly all participants carried resistant genes without displaying any visible symptoms, which raises significant concerns for this especially at-risk population.
“Our results indicate that even antibiotics not typically linked to major changes in gut flora can materially boost the presence of resistance genes,” Miller states.
Professor Geraint Rogers, the senior author and Director of the Microbiome and Host Health Program at SAHMRI, notes that the implications of this research go beyond individual patient care.
“As the aging population continues to grow and life expectancy increases, our findings underscore the need for a comprehensive approach to antibiotic management within long-term aged care settings,” says Professor Rogers.
“There are worries that healthcare providers may be overprescribing antibiotics, which could heighten the risk of resistant infections. This study’s findings highlight the necessity for increased caution when prescribing these medications to older adults.”
