Anti-microbial resistance has long been a serious global public threat. It happens when bacteria, viruses and fungi no longer respond to medicines due to mutations.
This makes it harder to treat the disease thus causing severe illness and death.
The discovery of antibiotics by Sir Alexander Fleming in 1928, has helped save millions of lives from infectious diseases.
However, as people build antibiotic resistance, it is estimated that the annual death toll may reach 10 million by 2050.
This will also negatively affect the economy as treating antibiotic resistance comes with a high cost.
What’s more worrying is that, since the 1980s, there has been no major new class of antimicrobial. This will severely restrict future therapeutic options.
How It Happens
This crisis happens due to several factors. The first is the overuse of these medications.
Studies have shown that in 30% to 50% of the cases that the usage of antibiotics are prescribed incorrectly whether it is due to :
- treatment of indication
- choice of agent
- duration of antibiotic therapy
Another reason is the improper usage of antibiotics as anti-microbial resistance may occur when patients do not take their medications as prescribed.
This includes stopping treatment as soon as they feel a little better or using leftover antibiotics for another illness. This can lead to antibiotic resistance.
In other words, those that don’t follow the prescribed course of the antibiotics would build anti-microbial resistance.
Another factor is that antibiotic developments by large pharmaceutical companies are not a profitable investment.
This is because antibiotics are used for a short period and are not as profitable as drugs treating chronic conditions.
This means there will be fewer innovations in the antibiotic classes of medications.
Several actions can prevent anti-microbial resistance. Such as:
1. Public awareness and Education
Organizing public awareness program can help in increasing awareness. Another method is to include specific antibiotic labelling as well as counselling regarding the proper usage of antibiotics.
2. Appropriate Use of Anti-microbials
Optimize the use of anti-microbial medicines. These medications should only be prescribed when indicated.
3. Infection Prevention and Control
Reduce the incidence of infection through effective sanitation, hygiene and infection prevention measures.
These efforts aim to ultimately reduce unnecessary and inappropriate consumption of anti-microbial medicines. All in all, efforts from all parties can help in preserving the efficacy of these precious drugs for the present and future generations.
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References:
- Malaysian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (MyAP-AMR) 2017-2021
- https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/combating-antibiotic-resistance
- https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/q-a.html
- Ventola C. L. (2015). The antibiotic resistance crisis: part 1: causes and threats. P & T : a peer-reviewed journal for formulary management, 40(4), 277–283
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