1. Residual Bacteria Exposure:Even if most of the targeted bacteria are killed, some may survive in small numbers, especially if the infection isn’t fully cleared. Prolonged antibiotic use exposes these surviving bacteria to the drug, allowing them to adapt and develop resistance mechanisms.
2. Impact on Non-Target Bacteria:Antibiotics don’t just affect the bacteria causing the infection. They also interact with other bacteria in your body (e.g., in the gut or skin). Extended use can pressure these non-pathogenic bacteria to develop resistance, which they can then transfer to harmful bacteria through mechanisms like horizontal gene transfer.
3. Selective Pressure:Taking antibiotics for too long creates an environment where only the strongest, most resistant bacteria survive. These resistant strains can multiply, replacing susceptible ones, and spread to other parts of the body or to other people.
4. Environmental Spread:Antibiotics excreted through urine or feces can enter the environment, exposing bacteria in soil, water, or other ecosystems to low levels of the drug. This chronic exposure fosters resistance in environmental bacteria, which can eventually affect human health.

Even if the original infection is gone, unnecessary antibiotic use promotes the survival and spread of resistant bacteria, making future infections harder to treat. Always follow your doctor’s guidance on antibiotic duration to minimize these risks.

Regards,
JAKSTAR PHARMA