Finns are once again heading south in droves for a holiday in the warmth of the south. Being hospitalised abroad increases the risk of contracting antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
After two years of interest rates and travel restrictions, many Finns are once again heading abroad. Many schoolchildren and their families are currently doing the same during the autumn holidays.
Even if the worst of the corona pandemic is over, it is still worth remembering basic precautions when travelling, such as hand hygiene and avoiding travelling with symptoms.
Because of interest rate risk, many people may have forgotten about other health risks associated with tourism.
Long-distance travel poses a particular risk
In an article recently published in Lääkärilehti, it is reminded that travelers especially in more distant travel destinations should beware of health risks caused by impure water or other drinks and poorly cooked food. In addition to being miserable, lurking in them is the danger of bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
The number of these ESBL enterobacteria temporarily decreased during the travel restrictions caused by the corona. Tourists get infected especially during trips to South and Southeast Asia, Africa and South America.
ESBL bacteria have rapidly become common in hospitals around the world. ESBL infections acquired outside the hospital have also increased in recent years.
In addition, hospitalization abroad significantly increases the probability of contracting a bacterial infection.
Normal diarrhoea does not require antibiotics
Kajova and Kantele remind that unnecessary courses of antibiotics should be avoided during the trip. In case of diarrhea, it is no longer recommended to take a course with you on the trip. You don’t need an antibiotic for ordinary travel diarrhea, instead, you have to see a doctor for a severe illness.
More than a hundred thousand Finnish tourists bring bacteria resistant to antibiotics to Finland each year. About a thousand of them fall ill with an infection caused by bacteria, often with diarrhea or a urinary tract infection. Antibiotic resistance makes it difficult to treat these symptoms.
When choosing a travel destination, it is worth finding out the antibiotic resistance situation in the destination country, especially if the traveler has a basic illness, the worsening of which may require hospital treatment, or if he is waiting for an operation in his home country.