Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a serious threat to global public health in recent years. It is becoming evident that resistance to common antibiotics that we often take for granted is occurring at an alarming rate. This is no longer an issue for the future, as it is happening now across the world. According to WHO, in 2012 there were about 450 000 new cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Furthermore, extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis has been identified in 92 countries. AntimicrobialAntimicrobial resistance threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi.

So what does this actually mean?

AMR essentially means that antimicrobials used to treat illnesses, for instance throat infections or AIDS, may cease to work effectively due to pathogenic resistance. This means that an average case of tonsillitis or bronchitis may turn into a life threatening infection. As an example, treatment failures due to resistance of last resort therapies for gonorrhoea have now been reported in ten countries. Gonorrhoea may soon become untreatable as no vaccines or new drugs are currently in development.

AMRAntimicrobial Resistance

Did you know that ...

- AMR is present in ALL parts of the world. New resistance mechanisms emerge and spread globally.- Each year at least 2 million people get infection which can not be treated by common antibiotics.-- Without effective antibiotics, modern medical treatments such as operations and transplants will become impossible.

We can make a difference

As future pharmacists we have a major role in the prevention of antimicrobial resistance. It is our duty to inform patients about the risk of improper antimicrobial usage, as well as advocating for stricter prescribing regulations.

-- Emphasise that it is always necessary to finish the course that the patient has been prescribed.- Encourage patients to bring any unused antimicrobials back to the pharmacy for proper disposal.- Advocate for stricter guidelines for antimicrobial prescribing in the community and hospital settings.

AMRAntimicrobial Resistance

Objectives of the Campaign

- Raise awareness of the increasing rates of AMR.- Educate the public with knowledge that will empower them to take action.- Promote the profession through our knowledge, advice and campaigning of AMR.- Slow the rates of emerging antimicrobial resistance.- Slow the rates of emerging antimicrobial resistance.

Ten steps to prevent resistance

1. Advocate for vaccinations; where possible avoid the need for antimicrobials in the first place!2. Enforce good hygiene, always remember to wash your hands.3. Ensure antibiotics are only used for bacterial infections.4. Ensure antimicrobials are never shared with others.5. Advise that leftover prescriptions should be discarded.5. Advise that leftover prescriptions should be discarded.6. Prescribe and dispense antimicrobials only when they are truly needed.7. Prescribe and dispense the right antimicrobial(s) to treat the illness.8. Only treat infection, not colonisation.9. Stop treatment when indicated, cease when infection cured, or if cultures come back negative.10. Promote appropriate use of medicines and prevent transmission.

AMRAntimicrobial Resistance

Further information:http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs194/en/http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/healthtopics/antimicrobial_resistance/pages/index.aspx