服用抗生素应知三件事

Three things to keep in mind when taking antibiotics

刘立军 供稿

TRANSCRIPT

Vismita Gupta-Smith, WHO Communications

WHO has been advising countries to use antibiotics rationally for decades now. Why is that? What is at risk? And how can we preserve antibiotics for our future generations? What can governments do and what can you do? Hello and welcome to Science in 5. I’m Vismita Gupta-Smith. We’re talking to Dr Hanan Balkhy today. Welcome, Hanan. Let’s start with what is at risk. Why has WHO been advising countries and people to use antibiotics rationally?

Dr Hanan Balkhy, Assistant Director-General, Antimicrobial resistance

Good afternoon. It’s great to be back with you on Science in 5. I think if we just go back in history a little bit, in 1928, penicillin was discovered, which is the first antibiotic. So we’re talking over eight decades now of the first antibiotic. The problem is that these antibiotics were used to kill bacteria that cause disease to humans. However, these bacteria are smart enough that they find ways to escape the effect of the antibiotics because they want to survive. Now, so that’s one part of the puzzle. The second part of the puzzle is that the antibiotics are critical for human health and also for animal health. So the modern medicine that we have the privilege of experiencing today cannot continue without effective antibiotics.

Vismita Gupta-Smith, WHO Communications

So, Hanan, you’re actually describing an apocalyptic scenario almost where people may not have the protection of antibiotics, even in common injuries if we don’t preserve their efficacy. Talk to us about the top three things that each of us can do to help that.

Dr Hanan Balkhy, Assistant Director-General, Antimicrobial resistance

So I think the first thing that people can do is try to take antibiotics only when prescribed by your physician or your health care provider. That’s the first thing. The second thing is complete the antibiotic course based on the instructions given by the clinician. And the third thing is make sure that you’re not sharing your antibiotic with family or friends because it really needs to be given based on guidance, based on the specific signs and symptoms that each individual is experiencing. Certain viral infections, they really do not require antibiotics. When you do not complete your course of antibiotics, knowing that we have bacteria that live on our skin, live in our gastrointestinal system. So exposing these bacteria to inefficient doses or incomplete doses of antibiotics only teases the bacteria in a way, and it allows it to develop mechanisms to become irresponsive to these antibiotics. So the risk is that we will start creating superbugs. We will allow for opportunities for these bacteria to become even stronger and then when the time comes where we really need to treat them, we won’t have the effective antibiotics to do so. Now, on giving antibiotics and sharing it with other people you’re actually putting them at a risk of giving them perhaps the wrong medication and also giving them the inaccurate guidance on how to use these antibiotics.

Vismita Gupta-Smith, WHO Communications

So Hanan talk to us about what governments and organizations can do to preserve antibiotics for the future.

Dr Hanan Balkhy, Assistant Director-General, Antimicrobial resistance

Now, this is also a very critical question because obviously people cannot solve this problem alone. And I think that’s where WHO has given a lot of attention to antimicrobial resistance and we’re really working hand in hand with three other critical organizations and many others as well. Those are the organizations for animal health, environmental, health and agriculture. And we work together to try to identify what are the best hygiene methods that need to be put in place so that, first of all, animals and humans as well are not exposed to infection so that there is less need for using antibiotics. And this is not an easy task, but we’re doing our best to move forward on that. What we’re hoping also when we work with governments, we have put in place with the member states certain national action plans so that they can have the right bits and pieces that need to be done in the health care system, in the agriculture system, in the environment, to make sure that the hygiene and the cleanliness of the environments where we eat and live and where the animals are raised and where we eat our food is actually clean and we minimize to the maximum the need to use antibiotics. So that’s one critical thing. One other critical thing is making sure that people stay as healthy as possible. A good example of that is making sure that people take their needed vaccinations. And that also reduces the load of infections that will require antibiotics in general.

Vismita Gupta-Smith, WHO Communications

Thank you, Hannan. That was Science in 5 today. Until next time then, stay safe, stay healthy, and stick with science.

u  VOCABULARY

1. antibiotic n.（常用复数）a substance, for example penicillin , that can destroy or prevent the growth of bacteria and cure infections 抗菌素；抗生素（如青霉素）。例如：The doctor put her on antibiotics (= told her to take them). 医生要她服用抗生素。

2. privilege n. something that you are proud and lucky to have the opportunity to do 荣幸；荣耀；光荣。例如：I hope to have the privilege of working with them again. 但愿有幸与他们再度合作。

3. apocalyptic adj. describing very serious damage and destruction in past or future events 描述（历史）大动乱的；预示（未来）大灾变的。例如：an apocalyptic view of history 对历史抱极其悲观的观点

4. scenario n. a description of how things might happen in the future 设想；方案；预测。例如：Let me suggest a possible scenario. 我来设想一种可能出现的情况。

5. efficacy n. (formal) the ability of sth., especially a drug or a medical treatment, to produce the results that are wanted （尤指药物或治疗方法的）功效，效验，效力

6. gastrointestinal adj. (medical 医) of or related to the stomach and intestines 胃肠的

7. tease v. to annoy an animal, especially by touching it, pulling its tail, etc. 招惹，逗弄（动物）

8. antimicrobial adj. 抗菌的

QUESTIONS

Listen to the news and choose the best answer to each question you hear.

1. What is the problem with antibiotics according to Dr. Hanan Balkhy?

A) Antibiotics can cause diseases to humans.

B) Antibiotics are not effective in killing bacteria.

C) Bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics.

D) Antibiotics are harmful to animal health.

2. Why are antibiotics important for human and animal health?

A) They can kill bacteria that cause diseases.

B) They can prevent the spread of diseases.

C) They can improve the immune system.

D) They can cure chronic diseases.

3. What is the first thing people can do to help preserve the efficacy of antibiotics according to Dr. Hanan Balkhy?

A) Only take antibiotics when prescribed by a physician.

B) Complete the antibiotic course based on personal preference.

C) Share antibiotics with family and friends.

D) Take antibiotics for viral infections.

4. What is the risk of exposing bacteria to incomplete doses of antibiotics?

A) The bacteria will become more responsive to antibiotics.

B) The bacteria will become immune to antibiotics.

C) The bacteria will die off completely.

D) The bacteria will develop into superbugs.

5. Which of the following is NOT one of the top three things that individuals can do to help preserve the efficacy of antibiotics, according to Dr. Hanan Balkhy?

A) Take antibiotics only when prescribed by a physician or healthcare provider.

B) Complete the antibiotic course based on the instructions given by the clinician.

C) Share antibiotics with family or friends.

D) Make sure that antibiotics are given based on guidance, based on the specific signs and symptoms that each individual is experiencing.

6. What are the organizations that WHO works with to identify the best hygiene methods to reduce the need for antibiotics?

A) Organizations for animal health, environmental health and agriculture.

B) Organizations for medical research and development.

C) Organizations for education and public health.

D) Organizations for energy and resource management.

7. What is one critical thing that can help minimize the need to use antibiotics?

A) Taking needed vaccinations

B) Increasing the use of antibiotics

C) Improving the taste of food

D) Reducing the amount of exercise

KEY

1. What is the problem with antibiotics according to Dr. Hanan Balkhy?

A) Antibiotics can cause diseases to humans.

B) Antibiotics are not effective in killing bacteria.

C) Bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics.

D) Antibiotics are harmful to animal health.

【答案】C

【解析】细节题。根据Dr. Hanan Balkhy所说，抗生素的问题在于细菌可以发展出对抗生素的抵抗能力，因为它们想要生存下去。

2. Why are antibiotics important for human and animal health?

A) They can kill bacteria that cause diseases.

B) They can prevent the spread of diseases.

C) They can improve the immune system.

D) They can cure chronic diseases.

【答案】A

【解析】细节题。Dr. Hanan Balkhy指出，抗生素对于人类和动物的健康至关重要，因为它们可以杀死引起疾病的细菌。

3. What is the first thing people can do to help preserve the efficacy of antibiotics according to Dr. Hanan Balkhy?

A) Only take antibiotics when prescribed by a physician.

B) Complete the antibiotic course based on personal preference.

C) Share antibiotics with family and friends.

D) Take antibiotics for viral infections.

【答案】A

【解析】细节题。Dr. Hanan Balkhy建议，人们应尽量在医生或医疗保健提供者的建议下使用抗生素。

4. What is the risk of exposing bacteria to incomplete doses of antibiotics?

A) The bacteria will become more responsive to antibiotics.

B) The bacteria will become immune to antibiotics.

C) The bacteria will die off completely.

D) The bacteria will develop into superbugs.

【答案】D

【解析】细节题。根据Dr. Hanan Balkhy所说，将细菌暴露于不足量的抗生素剂中，会让细菌发展出更强的抗药机制，变得对抗生素不敏感，从而产生超级细菌。

5. Which of the following is NOT one of the top three things that individuals can do to help preserve the efficacy of antibiotics, according to Dr. Hanan Balkhy?

A) Take antibiotics only when prescribed by a physician or healthcare provider.

B) Complete the antibiotic course based on the instructions given by the clinician.

C) Share antibiotics with family or friends.

D) Make sure that antibiotics are given based on guidance, based on the specific signs and symptoms that each individual is experiencing.

【答案】C

【解析】推理题。根据Dr. Hanan Balkhy所说，个人可以做的三件事情是：只在医生或医疗保健提供者开具处方时服用抗生素，按照临床医生给出的指示完成抗生素疗程，确保抗生素是根据每个人特定的症状和体征指导使用的。因此，不与家人或朋友分享抗生素是不应该做的事情。

6. What are the organizations that WHO works with to identify the best hygiene methods to reduce the need for antibiotics?

A) Organizations for animal health, environmental health and agriculture.

B) Organizations for medical research and development.

C) Organizations for education and public health.

D) Organizations for energy and resource management.

【答案】A

【解析】细节题。根据Dr. Hanan Balkhy所说，WHO与动物健康、环境卫生和农业等组织紧密合作，试图确定需要采取哪些最佳卫生方法，以减少使用抗生素的需求。

7. What is one critical thing that can help minimize the need to use antibiotics?

A) Taking needed vaccinations

B) Increasing the use of antibiotics

C) Improving the taste of food

D) Reducing the amount of exercise

【答案】A

【解析】细节题。Dr. Hanan Balkhy指出，确保人们尽可能保持健康是一个关键因素，其中一个例子就是确保人们接种所需的疫苗，这也可以减少一般情况下需要使用抗生素的剂量。

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