Antibiotic resistance

“Antimicrobials – including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics – are medicines used to prevent and treat infectious diseases in humans, animals, and plants.

“Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines.

“As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability, and death,” according to the World Health Organization. 

An important fact is that AMR is one of the top global public health and development threats. It is estimated that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths.

Here’s a poignant short video that brings home the issue:

What the WHO is doing about it

What is the World Health Organization doing about AMR? In its own words, it is addressing the “challenges and health system barriers people face when accessing health services to prevent, diagnose, and treat drug-resistant infections.” It is focusing on “preventing infections and ensuring universal access to health services for quality diagnosis and appropriate treatment.”

What we can all do about it

So what can each and every one of us do about AMR? As recommended in a previous The Good Times article, we can all do our part to tackle this threat:

  • Let your doctor know you understand the need to limit the use of antibiotics, and enquire about alternative options.
  • Increase the awareness of AMR by talking about the issue with those around you.
  • Celebrate World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (November 18-24).
  • Ask your local authorities to address this serious challenge urgently.
  • Ask your national government to enforce laws regulating the sale of antibiotics.
  • Advocate to make AMR a globally recognized pressing issue.

Remember, too, that antibiotics do not work against viruses. They cannot be used to treat viruses, colds, the flu, sore throats, or upper respiratory infections. Antibiotics only treat infections caused by bacteria. In fact, “Taking antibiotics when they aren’t needed actually increases the risk that bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. It increases the chances that harmful bacteria can no longer be treated, making us all more vulnerable.” Common bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, sepsis (an extreme reaction to an infection), sexually transmitted infections, and some forms of diarrhea, are becoming harder and occasionally impossible to treat as routine antibiotics become less effective. AMR actually threatens to reverse the miracles of modern medicine, when healthcare providers can no longer cure infections.

So, in general, to prevent illness and the need for antimicrobial drugs, it’s advisable to follow good general health practices, such as a balanced diet, exercise, seven hours or more of sleep per night, and good hygiene (especially frequent hand-washing).

Featured image by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Pix4free.org

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