​What is your experience with antibiotic resistance?

Professionally my role is focused on communicable disease surveillance, response, and prevention from a public health lens, which includes antibiotic resistant infections.  Personally, like many others I have family members and friends who have suffered from severe illnesses due to antibiotic resistant infections.

- Zintars Beldavs, Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention Manager at Oregon Health Authority

I've been an infection preventionist for over 30 years. During that time there has been significant increases in drug resistance. I call it the march of the alphabet...MRSA, VRE, VRSA, ESBL, CRE, CPO, CRAB... it just keeps marching on. Early in my career, we would say there was no resistance to drugs used to treat fungal infections like Candida. Now, the Candida auris fungus is one of our biggest concerns. So, resistance has progressed significantly over the last 30 years.

- Therese Phin, RN, CIC, LTC-CIP, MDRO Infection Preventionist at Oregon Health Authority

I have taken care of many patients who have had extensive antibiotic resistance. These patients require our second, third, or fourth choice of antibiotics which often have more side effects and are less effective. It's particularly distressing when we know this resistance has been caused by using antibiotics inappropriately, such as for asymptomatic bacteria in the urine, sinusitis, or bronchitis.

- Amy Dechet, MD, Infectious Diseases Physician, Faculty of Internal Medicine Residency Program at Portland Providence Medical Center

I am a constant advocate for appropriate antibiotic use in both my professional and personal life.  In my professional life, my research focuses on supporting antimicrobial use and much of the education I deliver to healthcare providers, students, and the general public also focuses on understanding appropriate use of antibiotics.  But in my personal life, I am faced with the same decisions that the general public faces.  When my kids are sick, I want them to feel better.  When my elderly parents are hospitalized, I want them well and back at home.  As hard as these situations are, antibiotics are not always the answer—and their use can bring not only an increase in antibiotic resistance but other adverse effects such as diarrhea and irregular heart rhythms, or even life-threatening secondary infections like Clostridioides difficle that can infect people after their normal flora is eradicated by antibiotics.

- Jessina C McGregor, PhD, Professor, Oregon State University College of Pharmacy